WASHINGTON - A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy who missed his school bus hopped into the family car and drove alone 16km to school before losing control and crashing but escaping with only minor injuries, police said on Wednesday.

'It's not only one miracle, it's a multiple array of miracles' that allowed the boy from Wicomico Church, in the US state of Virginia, to avoid serious injury to himself or others, Northumberland county Sheriff Chuck Wilkins told AFP.

The boy took the keys to a 2005 Ford Taurus early on Monday while his mother was sleeping, and drove, possibly standing up, 'during our busiest time of the day, when all the school buses are going, passing two or three cars at a time, and went over a bridge and almost made it to school' before striking a utility pole, Sheriff Wilkins said.

'He just had a strong desire to go school even after the crash,' so that he wouldn't miss the school breakfast or gym class, police Sergeant Tom Cunningham said.

The boy was taken to a local hospital, treated and released in time to make it to Northumberland Elementary School.

Both parents were arrested and charged with child endangerment.

'There was an outstanding court order that the children not be left with the mother alone because she had some previous issues,' Sheriff Wilkins said.

But the father went to work at 6.30am and left the boy and his four-year-old brother at home. When the mother did not wake up to help him get ready for school, the boy drove there, the sheriff said, adding that the boy and his brother were put in foster care. -- AFP