Someone takes his education very seriously...

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video report: http://www.yahoo.com/s/1012413

text: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=600&sid=1565807

6-year-old takes family car after missing bus
January 6, 2009 - 3:45pm

WICOMICO CHURCH, Va. (AP) - 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."

wow

Should the parents be to blame?

I personally do not think so, I mean what do they expect every parent in the world to do? Lock children in a room all day, hide every single object that isn't soft? Only thing I can see where they can get a slapped wrist is letting a young child play 18+ rated games, but even then nothing major just a "be more responsable".

Kid learning to drive from a game?

I personally do not think this is the case, as you use a contoller, it doesn't involve using your feet, changing gears et cetra, even though you can get a rough idea it is very unlikely he knew what medal's would do what. I personally think it is just the kid being perceptive of how the parents drove when he was in the car as a passenger, even if he didn't focus on learning how to mimic the actions our brains are brilliant things and he could have easily memorised it subconsciously.

However the incident could have been worse. At least he wanted to go to school and learn, most people would have taken any opportunity to miss class.

I think they are to blame.

You don't let a 6 year old play Grand Theft Auto. Jesus. H. Christ.

Proximisio wrote:

I think they are to blame.

You don't let a 6 year old play Grand Theft Auto. Jesus. H. Christ.

Honestly a 6 year old shouldnt be close to touching a game like that. I barely let my son play halo.

Fourthed that the parents should not be charged with child endangerment, but letting him play an 18+ game? :: Waits for Jack Thompson to use this for his latest anti-gaming screed...::

Didn't Jack Thompson get disbarred?

Cadsuane wrote:

Didn't Jack Thompson get disbarred?

yep

Kybutra wrote:

Cadsuane wrote:

Didn't Jack Thompson get disbarred?

yep

Funny... me, dante and my brother was just talkin bout that today >_>

Kybutra wrote:

Cadsuane wrote:

Didn't Jack Thompson get disbarred?

yep

True dat, thank God, but just because he can't use the courts for a soapbox any more, doesn't mean he can't find another place to rant, and I don't want him using this kid as another reason why "video gamez r TEH EVOL!!11111"

I did the same exact thing when I was his age, except I was four. I took my mother's keys and started up the car. The only reason I didn't make it that far was that my feet couldn't reach the peddles. 

If this child is getting 6 miles down the road with only GTA as a reference, I say kudos to the parents for raising one resourceful kid who went as far as driving a car just to be on time for school. While someone should have been present at the bus stop with him, kids are curious. He probably would have tried it sooner or later, and that's no reason to bring child protective services into the picture.

MatrixRefugee wrote:

Kybutra wrote:

Cadsuane wrote:

Didn't Jack Thompson get disbarred?

yep

True dat, thank God, but just because he can't use the courts for a soapbox any more, doesn't mean he can't find another place to rant...

Actually, that's exactly what it means, since he can't make money for being some rambling anti-game lunatic anymore.

MatrixRefugee wrote:

Fourthed that the parents should not be charged with child endangerment, but letting him play an 18+ game? :: Waits for Jack Thompson to use this for his latest anti-gaming screed...::

   I'd love to see how he'd use this, since it's about a kid who is desperately trying to get to school.

   This story is more likely to be used as anti-gaming ammo, whether it had anything to do with games or not.

I'm not sure who to blame for this one. While I think the parents can be somewhat blamed for not being at the bus stop, but it's nothing criminal to not do that. And I don't think the kid REALLY learned to drive from GTA. I agree with whoever said it earlier that he was just preceptive of how other people drive. Isn't that how ALL of us get a little basic idea of how to drive? And to be honest, I think this story is funny that he drove to school, I know I would've went back to bed or drove to Chuck E. Cheese or something.

I think a lot of factors will come into play on how they treat this case, this could be a fluke thing or maybe the parents are drug addicted crack fiends that survive by ripping off tourists? Who knows?!