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Missing Autistic Teen Found Safe In Utah

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. (CBS) An autistic teenager who was reported missing in northwest suburban Crystal Lake earlier this week has been found safe in Utah.

Authorities in Wendover, Utah, found Trenton Johnson, 17, driving his parents' 2002 Honda Accord on Thursday. A Tooele County (Utah) Sheriff's officer pulled Johnson over for erratic driving.

Before his disappearance, he had last been seen at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and was reported missing by his parents on Wednesday, according to Crystal Lake police. He sent a text message to a friend stating he was en route to New York.

But police learned the teen had been visiting a friend in downstate Nokomis, though he had left the area before local authorities arrived, according to a news release from police.

He was taken into protective custody in Utah and his parents were notified, the release said.

Johnson suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, and did not have his medication with him when he disappeared, an earlier release said.

Police are crediting local businesses, who put his information on electronic marquees and signs, with helping locate him, the release said.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

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