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6-year-old misses bus, drives self to school; learned from GTA *Update* now on CNN |
Listed in: Titles, Off Topic Tags: Associated Press, CNN, ford, YouTube
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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
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Cool kid though, but not to cool for school!
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kudos to the kid, he actually did a better job than some adults.
most kids that young want to play with other kids. it's no real surprise he'd rather be at school.
the mother should have been awake. if this were a single parent situation i could see not being as harsh...
if there is a legitimate reason and the children are not in any constant danger, the parents will get the kids back. maybe this is exactly what they needed to realize the responsibility they have.
the school system around here started serving breakfast years ago, but it's not like it's free... it's cheaper and healthier to give the kid a proper breakfast of cereal or whatever...
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more info and a short interview with the father
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Father 40 ... mother 26 ... now, call me jumping to conclusions but I'd guess we're talkin' about a family with a few other dysfunctions.
My parents woke up with me to get me to school .. that is what parenting is.
If your dog gets loose and bites someone, you're responsible for that ... if your kid does the same thing, only with a car, you are also legally responsible.
When something this bone-headed happens, I'd fully expect child protective services to get involved...
If it was a one time slip and the children are found to not be in any danger, I doubt there'll be much of a problem besides paying back the damaged property.
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Thanks for the heads up, rollypoly! ^_^V
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nyr2k2...
yes schools here have a similar program, but it never includes breakfast, only lunch.
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A 6 year old gets up in the morning, gets himself ready, and heads off to the bus stop on his own? WTF?
Yes, those parents belong in jail.
Then there's the BS factor of this story. HTF can a 6 year old reach anything in a car? HTF did a 6 year old know he was late for school? That's a little too high speed for 6.
Why did he take maters into his own hands? Was he afraid he was going to get in trouble?
Yes - HTF was taking the care NOT going to get him in trouble?
No - WTF would you not just go to your parents room and proclaim your mistake?
Any story that reeks of this many questions must be BS.
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The mother was asleep.
The mother wasn't asleep.
1.5 miles from ther school.
.5 mile from the school.
No sense in commenting on something of which the facts are all screwed up. People are just pulling figures out of their ass.
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I would beat my child like a rented mule if he/she did something soooooo stupid.
There's just too many versions to this story to make an accurate assessment w/o having the facts completely straight. Every site has differing data....
imHo -
1> the parents shoulda been awake w/ a 6yr old to get them properly ready for school.
2> the parents should NOT have let a 6yr old play GTA4... sorry it's just not a game for that age.
3> the parents are legaly responsible for their offspring's actions until they are considered "of age" or "an adult" or... basically 18yrs... and even then I'm told they can still come back on the parents depending....
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That is false. With the excpetion of this case as the NEWS STORY will most likely be around in archives for a VERY long time.
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... okay... so there was a babysitter...
Gets upgraded to only POOR PARENTING... unless they don't fire the babysiter... then it's back to BAD PARENTING.
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/lmao
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Big Pimping!
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my first block teacher was nice enough to let us be late when the bell ring.
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Ever watch the movie problem child? classic. He locks the damn car so nobody cant get in.
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I mean, the 40 yr old guy has to satisfy a 26 yr old lady. Can't blame him...
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Maybe she should wake up to see her kids off to school....
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Anyways, I see no reason for the parents to be locked up other than for them not teaching their kid what is right and what is wrong.
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hehehe. did you know? 78.2% of people will actually believe made up numbers.
....LOL
um, anyways, who cares about the specific details. the story itself is going to be a legend in itself! and the story is simple: 6yearold kid misses bus, drives to school instead, crashes near school.
besides, why contest conflicting evidence in CNN and AP's reports if it won't matter eventually? i bet in the future, some people will start to morph into this urban legend or something. hahaha! could you imagine what it could turn into?
twenty years from now, a guy in his forties will talk to his friends over beer:
"yknow, some time back, there was this 6 year old kid who missed his school bus and wanted to go to school so bad because of breakfast (yea he was malnurished by his stupid parents, so his only source of food was the one provided by the school!) so he got his dad's keys and drove off in a semi-truck to go to school. yea! a 16wheeler even! he ran over a dog, a circus clown, and some pigeons, but they all actually lived. and when he got to school, he didn't find any parking. well, there was ONE parking space, but he didn't know how to parallel park. much less park with a 16wheeler truck. so he crashed the semitruck into the cafeteria and parked there instead. oh, and he missed breakfast."
LOL
and thus an urban legend is born! so. who's complaining about conflicting facts, hmm? hehehehe! XD
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Can your kid run inside and grab your gun?
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Point being, I doubt either QJ or CNN are right.
I doubt this has anything to do with missing the bus. The damn kid was just f'ing around.
If the parents can prove their kid went around all safety measures then they'll get off without a scratch.
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i know kids who play gta and they don't *****en drive, just think about it , would you be worried about gettin late to school or drivin a car?
that kid didnt learn that when you play gta the cops would show up?
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But WTF was the kid thinking? Taking his parents' car to school? You'd have to be the biggest idiot in the world not to see the huge flaws in logic there.
And wtf were the parents doing? "Oh, we were busy looking for our 4 year old's-" I DON'T CARE. Kids like this one need to be kept under constant supervision
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Something doesn't add up. And maybe the kid only plays the driving parts of GTA, who knows. Maybe he just said it to sound cool. Just 'cos he's 6 doesn't mean he isn't developed enough to be an *****.
Typical reporting - none of the facts, all of the sensation. The media could create a witch-hunt from hearing about someone sneezing...
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1st, Who lets a 6yo play GTA? I have a 5yo and she's never seen me play GTA as its not the sort of game I want her to see. I dont even play it when she's awake.
2nd, Who sleeps while thier kid gets up and gets themselves off to school? I get up, make sure my kid is ready for kinder then take them there, I them come back and go back to bed. All good. This is what a good parent does. Not sleep through it anad let the kid do it all themselves.
3rd, Who lets a kid get near a car with the keys? My kid does sit in the front seat when she's already in the car but never with the keys. There should be no way the kid can ever get the keys and the car together.
Again, WTF were they thinking letting a 6yo play GTA..... They dont deserve kids. I hope they dont get the kid back.
Oh, and wow, a kid learned that by playing GTA... I guess he'll be in prison with his mum and dad when he gets older. Was he black? I bet he is.
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Still the first story sounds more real than the video story. It sounds like it'll all come out in court... maybe. I bet the parents will make up a story that makes them sound good.
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Isohaven "ohh honey don't forget to put the keys in the safe"
ho "no prob babe, now our kids won't decide to drive to school if they miss the bus at 7:35"
isohaven "yeah we could go to jail for something that we had no idea they would do"
But seriously Binary is nothing but right. ISOHaven when I first started reading your post I thought it was sarcasm, but then I realized your really that stupid
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2. No, I said no such thing. Learn to read jackass. There's much more to it.
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