6-year-old takes family car after missing bus

[Richard]

Tue Jan 6, 3:44 pm ET.

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."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_o...pt7.IEtbAF

[Astrojewels]

This story I totally believe Richard! I have heard of many children taking the family car for a bit of a test drive… but how sad is it that the poor little boy wanted to get to school for breakfast, (do they make food for the kids in the US?) because his lazy mother cant get out of bed to see him off to school, the statistics say that at least 40% of children go to school without food, and this is in all the so called rich countries. No wonder the world is in such a state!

[Zodd42]

What's a six year old doing playing Grand Theft Auto??? When I was six I couldn't watch Scooby-Doo!

[HeadSpace]

Seemed strange for a six year old to take care of everything in morning for himself, I read the mother were asleep. Breakfast at school sounds lovely, never had that here. it's probably more of a social thing:) GTA is not that bad really, it can be a pretty harmless game, depends on who's playing it, but I guess the missions are violent. Great for driving though:P I did play some time ago, always liked games..

I stole my mothers car several times when I was young or younger, I wasn't six though:P

I guess if you're influenced enough to take the GTA mindset out into the real world this kind of scenario is very likely to happen:?

[Astrojewels]

 

I don’t think the recommended age is taken seriously by many parents, these games are good baby sitters and keep the kids happy for hours, and the parents do not look at the content.

[user=1260]HeadSpace[/user] wrote:

I guess if you're influenced enough to take the GTA mindset out into the real world this kind of scenario is very likely to happen:?

 

Headspace, a 6 yr old still cannot completely separate fantasy and factual, most kids at this age still believe in Santa. They do see these games as real and when playing, they become very agitated if they are defeated, it becomes a personal scar on their mind pattern, and then they are playing through anger instead of fun, so it is very important what games younger children play.

[Mercy Now]

AJ Yes they serve breakfast at most public schools.Sometimes it's free according to the family's circumstances.

These games are used like television was used in my youth.... as babysitters. I think both have been and are detrimental to society.


We didn't have a television for most of my youth . I read the encyclopedia when I was bored. lol

[Astrojewels]

Ah MN that is why you are so smart!

That is great that they feed the kids, that does not happen here, but what type of food? Many countries do this but feed them food full of hydrogenated fats.

Times have changed and children do not have ‘a childhood’ anymore, the world is just so unsafe, and sometimes it makes me sad that my children will never know freedom. I agree that games, videos, DVD’s and television limits the child to their own imagination and ability to think of ways out of boredom, kids today need entertainment to be entertained, imagine if we asked our parents for a mere portion of what the kids today get, well I know what the answer would be in my house!

[Mercy Now]

AJ, I feel we are seeing the affects of TV in my generation manifested as just as you say. People who need to be entertained almost constantly. This manifests in different forms but it's definitely there.

The public school system in my region has come under fire in the recent past for the quality of nutrition of foods that are served.This as  the public in general becomes more nutrtion aware. They reportedly made improvements to the degree they could afford.

[Astrojewels]

Yes MN, people become very bored if they are not listening to something, I know people that put the TV on for company, yet they are not watching it! We do not have the canteens here for kids, but I know about the ones in the UK and the problem is food that comes out of a packet, straight into the deep fryer is cheaper and smaller portions are required to fill the child, its all about money. The sad truth is these children eventually will not be able to eat real food, your body changes when you have eaten preservative filled food for a time.