Thread: News: Determined not to miss PE, 6-year-old crashes car

See...... video games aren't all bad and actually have a use, check where he learned to drive a car.....

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...e/6197050.html

Determined not to miss PE, 6-year-old crashes car

WICOMICO CHURCH, Va. — A 6-year-old Virginia boy who missed his bus tried to drive to school in his family's sedan — and crashed.

His parents were charged with child endangerment.

State police said the boy suffered only minor injuries and authorities drove him to school after he was evaluated at a local hospital for a bump on his head. He arrived shortly after lunch, Sgt. Tom Cunningham said.

It happened around 7:40 a.m. Monday on Route 360, about 61 miles east of Richmond.

The boy, whose name wasn't released, missed the bus, took the keys to his family's 2005 Ford Taurus and drove nearly six miles toward school while his mother was asleep, police said.

He made at least two 90-degree turns, passed several cars and ran off the rural two-lane road several times before hitting an embankment and utility pole about a mile and a half from school.

The boy told police he learned to drive playing Grand Theft Auto and Monster Truck Jam video games.

"He was very intent on getting to school," said Northumberland County Sheriff Chuck Wilkins. "When he got out of the car, he started walking to school. He did not want to miss breakfast and PE."

His parents, Jacqulyn Deana Waltman, 26, and David Eugene Dodson, 40, are each charged with child endangerment, Wilkins said. Waltman is being held without bond. Dodson was released on a $5,000 bond.

It was not clear if they had attorneys.

The boy and his 4-year-old brother were placed in protective custody.

"This really is a story of miracles," Wilkins said. "The Lord was with him, along with everybody else on the highway."

Other interesting observations can easily be found within the story, but I'm impressed. I wonder if he idled all the way to school or if he was able to actually work the pedals and see over the dash....

I also wonder how old the car was. I thought pretty much every car you had to step on the brakes just to start the car and/or get it in gear.

And we won't even touch why a 6 year old was playing GTA in the 1st place......

Originally Posted by laggyNgroovy

Other interesting observations can easily be found within the story, but I'm impressed. I wonder if he idled all the way to school or if he was able to actually work the pedals and see over the dash....

I saw another story like this where the kid used a stick to work the pedals. 8)

It's surprising what kids learn. When my daughter was only three my wife left her alone in the pickup with the engine running. I was recovering from an injury then and was in a wheelchair. Just as I wheeled around the back of the truck the engine went to full speed. I boogied to the cab and there was our daughter hanging from the column shifter and jamming the gas pedal to full throttle. She said that she wanted to help drive.

Luckily the park pawl was strong enough to stay engaged with a kid hanging on the shift lever.

What I don't understand is why is the father held without bond? So now I'm suppose to lock my keys away so my daughter can't touch them?

Originally Posted by WorstPE

What I don't understand is why is the father held without bond? So now I'm suppose to lock my keys away so my daughter can't touch them?

It was the mother that was held without bond.

I don't do criminal work, but my understanding is that bond is denied when the accused is a flight risk or a risk to themselves, e.g. suicidal. I see the denial of bond as a case of the state worrying about the well-being of the mother. In other words the mother was so distraught that the state was concerned she would hurt herself.

My issue is why she was asleep and entrusting her 6 year old to get to the bus himself.... My twins will be 6 in February and while I know they COULD very well get to the bus stop at the front of our complex on their own, I would never in my right mind LET them.... As for being able to drive, I wouldn't put it past any child, since all they really do in a car is look out the window or watch what you are doing... or fight with their siblings xD but yeah, my guess would be neglect is involved in this situation and when they told the mom her kids were being taken away, she flipped out, hence being held without bond to make sure the kids are in a good place before she starts trying to get crazy and take them back. Interesting story, and a true miracle he walked away with only a bump on his head....

I'm sure there is more back story and circumstances then the article is putting out there.