6-year-old misses bus, drives self to school; learned from GTA *Update* now on CNN
Monday morning in Virgina, a 6-year-old kid misses his bus to school. What’s a kid to do? He’s about to be late! Well, obviously, take your family’s car and get your tardy butt to the campus, of course! And that’s just what the kid (name undisclosed, so we’ll just call him “Lil Nicky” – you’ll know why in a bit) did. Aren’t kids just amazing these days? If they’re not fighting battles in court to legalize hedgehogs, they’re driving themselves to school.
*Update* CNN video included!
When I first read this, I was like, “no frakin’ way…” But then it’s from Associated Press, so ok, let’s get on with the details. It can’t get any more hardcore than this!
Monday morning in Virgina, a 6-year-old kid missed his school bus. What’s a kid to do? He’s about to be late! Well, obviously, take your family’s car and get your tardy butt to the campus, of course! And that’s just what the kid (name undisclosed, so we’ll just call him “Lil Nicky” – you’ll know why in a bit) did.
While his mother was asleep, “Lil Nicky” took his family’s Ford sedan and drove to school. For the most part, the drive was surprisingly uneventful. In fact, he actually made it almost six miles before getting into an accident. According to the report:
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.
Ooh, and he was so close!
The fortunate thing is that no one was seriously hurt. “Lil Nicky” was brought by the cops to the hospital for a bump on his head and was eventually taken to school after lunch. Now here’s the interesting game-related bit.
The kid explained to the police that he learned how to drive by playing Grand Theft Auto (they didn’t seem to specify whichGTAthough) and Monster Truck Jam. County sheriff Chuck Wilkins notes:
He was very intent on getting to school. When he got out of the car, he started walking to school. He did not want to miss breakfast and PE.
Well, you can’t blame a kid for seriously wanting to go to school.
Meanwhile, the parents of the 6-year-old are both charged with child endangerment, and the kid and his 4-year-old brother were both put under protective custody. The mom (Jacqulyn Deana Waltman, 26) is currently being held without a bond, while the father (David Eugene Dodson, 40) was released on a US$ 5,000 bond.
Yeah, kids are just so amazing these days. If they’re not fighting battles in court to legalize hedgehogs, they’re driving themselves to school.
* Article originally posted Jan 07, 2009 at 08:55AM
*Update* Thanks to a comment made by rollypoly, we just found out that this story has actually landed on CNN! Here’s a YouTube embed of their news coverage (note that there are some details that seem to be inconsistent with AP’s initial report):
Related articles:
- 11-year-old Sonic fan faced court to legalize hedgehogs in Kansas
- Police investigate: video games deteriorate real-life driving skills
Via Associated Press