6 Year Old Drives To School Courtesy Of "GTA Skills"

A six-year-old used the skills he learned playing GTA to drive himself to school - or at least part of the way there.

The unnamed boy apparently was so distraught at the idea of missing P.E. class that when he missed the school bus, he jumped into his parents' Taurus and sped off after it. He later told police that he learned to drive by playing GTA and Monster Truck Jam.

He should've stuck with the controller; less than five miles later, he made a couple of 90 degree turns, went off the road twice and finally smashed into a utility pole.

After bending the car around the pole, he got out and started walking into school. Does anyone like P.E. that much?

The boy's parents, Jacqulyn Deana Waltman, 26, and David Eugene Dodson, 40, are being charged with child endangerment, whilst the boy and his 4 year old brother are being taken into protective custody.

Northumberland County Sheriff, Chuck Wilkins, said "This really is a story of miracles. The Lord was with him, along with everybody else on the highway."

Does anyone else wonder what a six-year-old was doing playing GTA in the first place?

Source: Kotaku courtesy of thebobmaster.

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gah horrible parenting at its worst. ):

The_root_of_all_evil:
Does anyone else wonder what a six-year-old was doing playing GTA in the first place?

After working at an EB Games (Gamestop), I've given up hope on parents actually watching what their kids play. The kid is lucky to be alive! I think the sheriff hit the nail on the head.

That kid must really really like PE class.

Dam. Its not the driving the school that freaks me out, that just hilarious, and pretty clever for a 6 year old to do.

But what the fuck was this kid doing playing GTA?

Parents were charged with child endangerment, maybe if we keep pointing to that fact enough, other parents might think twice about getting their darling snowflake Goresplosion Bloodsplatterfest 7.

Incidentally, if any game designers just happen to be reading, Goresplosion Bloodsplatterfest would be an awesome franchise that myself and many other ADHD-having manchildren will love to death.

Hey, if it was kickball day, I'd have been just as determined.

The_root_of_all_evil:
he made a couple of 90 degree turns, went off the road twice and finally smashed into a utility pole.

This does sound exactly like my GTA playing sessions.

Where were the parents at the time he missed the bus and who in their right mind gives a six yr old GTA

I love how he said GTA and monster truck jam, but the article heading just says GTA.

Not helping in the least, Kotaku. >_>

smartalec:

The_root_of_all_evil:
he made a couple of 90 degree turns, went off the road twice and finally smashed into a utility pole.

This does sound exactly like my GTA playing sessions.

Yeah, you can't have skills at driving in GTA; the poit is to do the most epic crashes.

Why the hell is a 6 year old kid playing GTA in the first place? Nice parenting, who here bets they blame the game?

I'd really like anyone who really believes a 6 year old learned to drive using GTA to play the game and compare it to their first driving lessons... theres no way this kid actually drove himself, or at least have no experience beforehand.

Northumberland County Sheriff, Chuck Wilkins, said "This really is a story of miracles. The Lord was with him, along with everybody else on the highway."

He wasn't saved by the lord... but by a game about maiming hookers.

ChromeAlchemist:
I love how he said GTA and monster truck jam, but the article heading just says GTA.

Not helping in the least, Kotaku. >_>

What's the betting that when Fox get hold of this Monster Truck Jam will mysteriously disappear.
He really did take GTA to heart, the moment the car became useless he just carried on towards the objective, Tommy Verceti would be proud.

Why would he want to go to PE? He's clearly a gamer, and it is a known fact that gamers hate physical activity.

Wait, what? I read this article in the humor section of my local newspaper today, but i didn't hear a damn thing about GTA. So, either my paper cut out the stupid parts, or some moron added this to spice things up some.

wow just horrible, horrible parenting

God was with him that day, not modern day cars that have crumple zones...

I'm sorry, but this is funny.

Hankage:

nathan-dts:

smartalec:

The_root_of_all_evil:
he made a couple of 90 degree turns, went off the road twice and finally smashed into a utility pole.

This does sound exactly like my GTA playing sessions.

Yeah, you can't have skills at driving in GTA; the poit is to do the most epic crashes.

Personally, I try to see how many people I can kill while having the most epic crash.

Interesting. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Ahhh yes... that's one brave or very stupid kid tho, first time I got into my driving instructor's car I was paranoid not to kill anyone...

ChromeAlchemist:
I love how he said GTA and monster truck jam, but the article heading just says GTA.

Not helping in the least, Kotaku. >_>

There is a reason behind it Chrome, Monster Truck Jam is a U, none of the GTA titles should be able to be played by a 6 year old; having 18 or M ratings.

well I blame the parents not the game reason 1) parents fault he had the game not the game's fault 2) the parents allowed the kid cess to the car keys 3) the didn't get the little tyke to the bus stop on time
Anyway after the generic "shock this child had an 18 rated game" crap, well done to the kid on not hurting anyone. the parents somewhat deserve to have to but another car.
I also didn't hear the GTA part when it was on the radio

thats nothing. in Ohio a 4 year old shot his babysitter because he stepped on his feet by mistake.

http://news.aol.com/article/4-year-old-shoots-babysitter-cops-say/294393

Sure he crashed in the end, but how bad would his driving be if he HADN'T played GTA? Someone could have been killed. I think we call that another life saved by GTA.

Calobi:
Why would he want to go to PE? He's clearly a gamer, and it is a known fact that gamers hate physical activity.

To practice killing? : P

The_root_of_all_evil:

Does anyone else wonder what a six-year-old was doing playing GTA in the first place?

Not so much when I noticed the boys father is 14 years older than the boys mother, his 'girlfriend' no less (unmarried).

Trying not to be too prejudiced, but when a 20 year old girl gets knocked up by a 34 year old guy, it doesn't seem to bode too well for the family later down the line.

It's the kind of pairing you expect to see on Jeremy Kyle.

When his mother was 6 years old, her future boyfriend and father of her child was 20.

Or am I just being old fashioned?

thenumberthirteen:
Sure he crashed in the end, but how bad would his driving be if he HADN'T played GTA? Someone could have been killed. I think we call that another life saved by GTA.

You win.

nathan-dts:

smartalec:

The_root_of_all_evil:
he made a couple of 90 degree turns, went off the road twice and finally smashed into a utility pole.

This does sound exactly like my GTA playing sessions.

Yeah, you can't have skills at driving in GTA; the poit is to do the most epic crashes.

The kid didn't have skills in GTA,or else he would of crashed a lot earlier and it would of been awesome...
Making all the kids in his P.E. class jealous

darrinwright:
Hey, if it was kickball day, I'd have been just as determined.

Agreed.

The_root_of_all_evil:

ChromeAlchemist:
I love how he said GTA and monster truck jam, but the article heading just says GTA.

Not helping in the least, Kotaku. >_>

There is a reason behind it Chrome, Monster Truck Jam is a U, none of the GTA titles should be able to be played by a 6 year old; having 18 or M ratings.

That is a good point, and I have always said that parents should not do such a thing.
But still, rather than people seeing it as a game he shouldnt be playing, they will see it as more fuel to the fire against GTA, we all know it will. People may end up saying something like 'it taught him to drive, it may teach him to kill!' but if you put monster truck jam in there too then it changes things.

I think I may have just been thinking of that article in the past, with the boy who left home when his parents took his 360 and he ran from home, but it was not just that which made him leave.

Parents may never stop buying games for underage children unfortunately, and I wouldn't care if games weren't in the spotlight due to stupidity from children or parents.

anyway i'm tired, hungry and my head aches ever so slightly, so I have no idea whether or not I even made sense just now, let me know if I have later because it's nap time. Ciao!

Calobi:
Why would he want to go to PE? He's clearly a gamer, and it is a known fact that gamers hate physical activity.

Lies. I liked PE for the most part, and I like and play american football now, And I breathe games of any electronic kind.

Well, that is one determined child.

Slim Reaper10:
thats nothing. in Ohio a 4 year old shot his babysitter because he stepped on his feet by mistake.

http://news.aol.com/article/4-year-old-shoots-babysitter-cops-say/294393

See I am starting to hate article headings. I know you are meant to read on to get the full story, but why is it hard to say '4 year old shoots babysitter with pellet gun'?

Baby Tea:

The_root_of_all_evil:
Does anyone else wonder what a six-year-old was doing playing GTA in the first place?

After working at an EB Games (Gamestop), I've given up hope on parents actually watching what their kids play. The kid is lucky to be alive! I think the sheriff hit the nail on the head.

That kid must really really like PE class.

He probably learned from Bully that PE class is a good time to pick on the other kids.

But seriously, where were his parents when he did this? Because depending on the circumstances, they might not be as at fault as they seem to be.