What do you about a 6-year-old takes family car after missing bus?

A 6-year-old Virginia boy who missed his bus tried to drive to school in his family's sedan 鈥?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."|||Why was the mom asleep??? I have 4 kids...15,11,9 and 5.I could not imagine not being up with them in the morning,especially on a school day.That is insane to me.Yes,they should be in protective custody.I think it is child neglect!|||What is a six year old doing playing Grand Theft Auto? Why is he getting himself off to school while his mother sleeps. It doesnt matter if she worked 12 hours or not she is still responsible for her child and getting him off to school. A six year old could basically get themselves off to school alone (my 5 year old does) but under supervision!!!|||Wow! I wonder....did he try to wake his Mom? Is she really the dead beat she is being portrayed? Or is she a Mom who worked 12 hours the day before who thought her son was on his way to school. There is obviously more to this story than what is posted here. Perhaps we shouldn't judge without knowing all the facts.|||Really, the kid made a mistake and I don't think any parent is going to worry about their 6 yr old stealing the car. I don't think child endangerment fits but Thank God the kid is okay!!! If anything this Mother needs to be scared out her mind.|||This is very crazy. I mean a 6 year old trying to drive a car to school. The parents should have more better supervision than that.


This will remind them to lock up the keys next time.|||I feel bad for his parents because their kids were taken away and they were charge with child endangerment. I think that is going kind of far. This is going to disrupt their whole lives.





I am happy no one was hurt.|||Perhaps this little guy would not have missed the bus if his Mother had been out of bed taking care of him as she should have.|||is it bad that i am laughing hysterically?


-- he is five! What are the parents doing asleep? They should be helping him.


I'm glad he likes school though ! =)|||that is so nuts the crazy thing is how far he got without hitting anyone. That little guy really wanted to go to school!|||i dont know what you do about that but its an interesting story|||Sad. But I'm glad he did it because now someone will make sure he is being taken care of. He tried to drive himself to school---obviously a kid who has had to be responsible for himself for quite some time.





He didn't want to miss breakfast? Poor little guy. He probably doesn't eat breakfast unless he gets it at school. I met a little boy who told me he didn't eat breakfast on weekends. He thought "breakfast" was just a school thing. :(





I want to hug this kid.|||I worry about the parenting. I have a 6 year old and she would never do something like that because she would not have been left alone at a bus stop nor would I already be back in bed asleep after sending her to the bus stop. I find the only time my kids do something unbelievable (but not to this extent) is when they are afraid to tell me for fear of getting in trouble. My only thought is this kid has missed the bus before and the sleeping parent blamed the kid. In reality the sleeping parent was probably the reason the kid missed the bus because she overslept. Ugh....just MHO.|||very interesting story


a 6 yr old boy learning to drive from GTA?? and MONSTER JAM???


kinda weird...


i am a LITTLE sick and have missed tuesday(the new year 2009 of school) and missed today(the day after tuesday)


kinda nervous..


i have now misssed 12 days





:\








who wants to go to school


im kinda nervous missing school because i dont feel good


because i have gotten in trouble for missing to much

















THE LITTLE BOY didnt want to miss BREAKFAST and P.E.!





HAHA