Autistic boy, 9, drives unconscious mom to safety

An autistic boy was hailed a "superhero" yesterday for avoiding a 70mph crash after his mother blacked out while driving on a busy dual carriageway. Jonathan Anderson, nine, averted disaster by seizing the wheel after his mother Marion, 34, slumped unconscious on the way to his school. The youngster, whose disorder can cause high levels of anxiety and confusion, pulled the handbrake on.

The Toyota Avensis veered across three lanes of rush-hour traffic, bumping into the central reservation of the A38 at Plympton, Devon. But despite being unable to reach the brake pedal, Jonathan refused to panic. He managed to steer the car back across the carriageway before it weaved up a bank and hit a tree, coming to a standstill. Then he calmly put the hazard lights on and waited for help to arrive. Jonathan is to receive a bravery certificate from the South Western Ambulance Service.