Boy Steers Out-Of-Control Truck For 10 Miles


Christopher Wheeler stands with a trooper after his actions.

http://news.sky.com/story/1668312/boy-steers-out-of-control-truck-for-10-miles/

A 10-year-old boy has been hailed a hero after he grabbed the wheel of a truck when the driver became unwell and steered it through 10 miles of traffic on a busy Alabama road.

Christopher Wheeler was with his elderly neighbour Alfred Smith on a trip to the scrap yard on Interstate 65 in Montgomery when the 70-year-old suffered a diabetic episode and began to lose consciousness.

Special Agent Eric Salvador, from the Attorney General's Office, spotted the pick-up weaving across three lanes of traffic and running other vehicles off the road.

He tried to get the vehicle to stop after turning on his siren and flashing his lights, but the truck carried on, WSFA reported.

The truck then turned off on to Highway 14, ran through a red light and swerved into oncoming traffic several times, before Christopher grabbed hold of the wheel and managed to hit the brakes.

Speaking to WSFA, Christopher said: "I didn't want us to die. The police were behind us the whole time with their lights on.

"I told him to stop, and he kept going. I put my foot on the brake, and I got the steering wheel and pulled it over and put it in park."

Mr Smith was taken to hospital after the incident, where he was in a good condition, the TV station said.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said the boy's actions "may have saved the driver's life, his own life and the lives of others on the road at the time".

Mr Salvador added: "Without the heroism of that child, I think they would have crashed off the road or into another vehicle. I think he saved a lot of lives out there."
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10-year-old passenger saves day after driver suffered diabetic episode on I-65 http://youtu.be/S0v6zfitmwY/ 00:02:11
* Local News Montgomery Alabama *

MONTGOMERY, AL -A Montgomery boy's story is making news across the country after his quick thinking made all the difference in a scary roadway ordeal.

Ten-year-old Christopher Wheeler was beyond brave when he took control of a car as it plunged head-on into oncoming traffic.

The third grader was riding with his elderly neighbor on a trip to the scrap yard Thursday on Interstate 65 when the 70-year-old driver started to have a diabetic episode. He was losing control of his truck as he started to go in and out of consciousness.

“He got sick and he was swerving across the road,” Christopher said. “He started getting sweaty and said he needed a piece of candy.”

Special Agent Eric Salvador with the Attorney General's Office was heading north on I-65 and spotted the pick-up truck as it was weaving back and forth across three lanes of traffic and running cars off the road.

“It almost hit the center wall several times,” Salvador said.

Salvador tried to initiate a traffic stop with lights and sirens, but the car continued driving dangerously on the interstate. The bed of the truck was loaded up with materials so he could not tell how many people were inside. He called the state trooper post for backup.

When the truck got off at Exit 181, he called 911 to notify Millbrook authorities. Salvador continued chasing the truck down Highway 14, and it went into oncoming traffic several times and ran the red light in front of Walmart.

“At that point, the vehicle appeared to make a stop and slow down and started to pull to the side of the road,” Salvador explained.

The chase came to an end after 10 miles thanks to Christopher taking control of the situation.

“I didn't want us to die,” Christopher said. “The police were behind us the whole time with their lights on. I told him to stop, and he kept going. I put my foot on the brake, and I got the steering wheel and pulled it over and put it in park.”

As he initiated the traffic stop, Salvador noticed that Christopher was in the car. Not yet knowing what he was dealing with, he asked the driver to turn off the vehicle. The driver did not respond or react so Christopher turned it off. He asked the driver to put his hands on the steering wheel and watched Christopher place his hands there.

"When I approached the vehicle, the child told me that he wanted to go home and stepped out of the vehicle,” Salvador said. “He was terrified.”

At that point, Salvador, who spent several years as a state trooper, realized he was dealing with a medical emergency.

His former partner, Senior Trooper Lee Walls, responded to call to assist and got Christopher into his patrol car.

Walls noticed the driver was lethargic and not responding and learned that he’s a diabetic. He got an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) from his car that he keeps for certain emergencies and gave the driver a cookie.

Paramedics arrived and took the driver, Alfred Smith, who goes by “Mr. Mitch,

Future NASCAR champ right there.....
























Wellllllllll maybe not......

I am impressed by this 3rd grader. He is brave, responsible, resourceful & has great survival skills.

I am thinking 'military academy' for this little guy.