Abby Porter and her mom, Shelly, were driving on Kanas 66 headed to her school in Riverton early on Wednesday according to a story in the Huffington Post, when Shelly had a medical emergency and passed out behind the wheel. Galena Police Chief Larry Delmont reported that, the second-grader whose father sometimes lets her steer their tractor and lawn mower — leaned over and took the steering wheel. Chief Delmont reported that at some point, Abby Porter even executed a U-turn on the four-lane highway, “because she was going home to her daddy.”
Galena Police Chief Larry Delmont said, “That’s at 8:37 in the morning, and there is a lot of traffic, a lot of trucks,” according to the Huffington Post.
“I was trying to not panic and then I got the idea to grab the steering wheel,” Abby Porter said according to My Fox Philly. “I was driving then I turned around to get to my dad’s house and then this police car came up,” she said.
The 8-year-old southeast Kansas girl is being hailed a hero for her quick and calm thinking. Officer Jimmy Hamilton noticed the SUV going about 20 mph and weaving a bit between the two lanes. According to the Tween Tribune, the officer suspected someone was driving under the influence. As he got closer he noticed the was woman, Shelly Porter, slumped over in the driver seat and saw little Abby sitting at the wheel.
“I never saw her cry,” Hamilton said. “It was just the expression on her face and the tone of her voice, you could tell she was scared. But she stayed with it.”
According to the Huffington Post, Jimmy Hamilton reported that he positioned his car in front of the SUV, “and she just steered right into my rear bumper, and I started applying slow pressure on my breaks until both vehicles stopped.”
Image credit: www.koamtv.com