NATIONAL BRIEFING / VIRGINIA

The word “miracle” can be overused. But when a 6-year-old boy drives a Ford Taurus more than 10 miles, weaving in and out of oncoming traffic at speeds exceeding 60 mph, slams into a utility pole and no one gets hurt, well, maybe miracle is appropriate.

That’s what happened near Wicomico Church on Monday when the first-grader missed his school bus and decided to drive his mom’s car to school so he wouldn’t miss breakfast and P.E., authorities said.

“It’s a miracle that somebody didn’t get killed,” said Northumberland County Sheriff Chuck Wilkins. “We’re a rural area, but if we do have a rush hour, that’s it.”

The boy told police he learned to drive playing video games, including Grand Theft Auto and Monster Truck Jam. Authorities drove him to school after he was evaluated at a local hospital.

“He was very intent on getting to school,” Wilkins said. “When he got out of the car, he started walking to school. He did not want to miss breakfast and P.E.”

The boy and his brother, 4, were placed in protective custody. His parents were charged with child endangerment.