6-year-old takes family car after missing bus

**celeb_2006** · January 7th, 2009, 05:19 AM

6-year-old takes family car after missing bus - Yahoo! News

(them kids is sure getting precocious these days ay?)

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."

**McJag** · January 7th, 2009, 06:05 AM

Poor little guy! His Mom sounds like she needs some help with parenting.

**Glitter** · January 7th, 2009, 07:02 AM

What kind of Mother is sleeping while her six year old is getting off to school ?

**crumpet** · January 7th, 2009, 08:43 AM

What kind of parent thinks it's okay for their 6 yr old to be playing Grand theft Auto?

**Sweetie** · January 7th, 2009, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Glitter

What kind of Mother is sleeping while her six year old is getting off to school ?

I would say 50% of them this day and time.

**mrs.v** · January 7th, 2009, 09:12 AM

Damn,he didn't get a day off from school after that

**Shinola** · January 7th, 2009, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Sweetie

I would say 50% of them this day and time.

Cool. I'm going to spread the word among all the mothers I know and we'll sleep in every day from now on.

**Laurent** · January 7th, 2009, 12:04 PM

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

Naturally.

**Sweetie** · January 7th, 2009, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Shinola

Cool. I'm going to spread the word among all the mothers I know and we'll sleep in every day from now on.

Whatever floats your boat.

**SweetPea** · January 7th, 2009, 12:29 PM

This is kid really wanted to get to school.

I know a decent amount of kids and if they missed the bus they really wouldn't mind.

**Shinola** · January 7th, 2009, 12:45 PM

This reminds me of how there are some kids in our school who rely on school for everything--stability, structure, fun, stimulation, learning, and most of all, grownups acting nicely and setting a decent example.

(Please ignore my previous jackass-sounding posts.)