Boy, 5, drives mom's truck,

slightly injured in accident

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- A five-year-old New Ulm boy was injured after he took his mother's pickup truck for a ride and totaled it Wednesday morning.

Police found the red 1994 Chevrolet S-10, which the boy was said to have driven down German Street for about two blocks, on its side in the intersection of 17th South and German streets.

The accident happened when the boy lost control of the truck, ran off the street and struck a steel post and some trees. The truck was totaled in the accident.

The boy, whose name police did not release, received minor injuries in the accident,

The accident attracted the attention of several passersby as well as employees at the nearby recycling center.

Witness Herb Klossner, of New Ulm, said he was heading up German Street at the time he found the truck, which was lying on its side. Klossner said he found the boy climbing out of the truck. Klossner gave the boy his coat until police arrived a few minutes later.

"He had scrapes on his legs," Klossner said. "He was saying 'I broke mommy's truck.'"

"I'm glad I wasn't a minute earlier because he would've hit me," Klossner said. "Lucky no one else got hurt."

The boy's grandfather, Roger Volk, of New Ulm, said the boy took the truck while his parents were still sleeping. He said the boy went downstairs, found the truck's keys and went out through a screen, where he went to the garage and unlocked the garage door and the truck. He started the truck up and hooked the garage door as he drove off.

A next-door neighbor, whom Volk identified as "Don from the New Ulm bus company", tried to stop the boy from taking the truck several times, but failed. The truck eventually fishtailed, hit the trees and tipped over, Volk said. New Ulm police officers brought the boy home.

"I'm sure glad he's safe," Volk said. "I can always buy another truck, but I can't get another grandson."

Volk said he credits the neighbor for risking his life in trying to stop the boy.

"It could've been much, much worse," Volk said.