A 12-year-old boy grabbed the wheel after his mum passed out on the motorway, saving both their lives by crashing into the verge, despite telling a 999 call hander he was ‘really scared’
Quick-thinking Zac Howells saved his mum’s life by taking the wheel when she passed out at 60mph on the motorway. The 12-year-old managed to steer Nicola Crump’s car to safety after the 37-year-old lost consciousness with her foot still on the accelerator.
After managing to slow the car down, he crashed it into a grass verge and called 999. West Mercia Police has now released the audio footage of him staying calm and directing call-handlers to their location.
The call-handler asks him, “Oh my goodness, is everyone alright?” He admits to feeling “really scared” but claims he found driving was “really easy”.
Nicola and Zac had been travelling from Wales to the Birmingham Christmas market when the drama unfolded. After his mother fainted, Zac brought the vehicle to a stop by A40 near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire then switched off the engine and called 999.
West Mercia Police has now released audio footage. Zac can be heard saying: “Basically I’m driving on a motorway and my mum just fainted so I had to crash the car to stop.
“Her foot went down on the pedal and it started accelerating, so I had to crash into the barrier.” The call-handler replies: “Oh my goodness, is everyone alright?”
Zac says: “Well I mean, she’s snoring, so I think she’s okay. I dunno, I’m really scared.”
Heart-warming footage then captures Nicola regaining consciousness and Zac telling her: “Mum, it’s alright. Calm down, it’s fine.
“Hold my hand, you OK? Mum breathe.”
Nicola asks: “I passed out?” Zac says: “Yeah and then you accelerated.”
An emotional Nicola replies: “Oh Zac, I’m sorry.” Zac, comforting her, comically responds: “No mum, it’s fine.
“I just drove the car. It’s really easy.”
He adds: “It’s fine, I’m worried about you, not me.” Nicola repeatedly apologies as Zac continues to reassure her “It’s fine, mum, you’re OK.
“I know we’re fine, I knew we were going to be fine.” This week, Zac was commended for his bravery after being awarded a Chief Constable’s Commendation by West Mercia Police.
He visited the force’s HQ at Hindlip in Worcestershire, meeting the call-handlers and officers who responded to the incident on December 14. Nicola, of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, told the BBC: “It’s been incredible.
“I’m just so proud of him and I’m so appreciative of the effort that everyone has gone through to make such a fuss of Zac.” Zac said: “Even to this day, I don’t see it as a big deal but from other people’s perspective it is.”
Chief Constable Richard Cooper said: “I am delighted to present Zac with this award today following what must have been an extremely frightening experience for such a young boy. For a 12-year-old to react in such a calm and mature manner is magnificent and I would like to express my gratitude for his actions that day.
“His display of bravery certainly extinguished any danger to them both but also that of other members of the public who were on the road that day.”
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