Mass. boy, 12, takes wheel after dad's seizure

DRACUT, Mass. (WHDH) -- A 12-year-old boy steered his family’s car to safety after his father suffered a seizure while driving on Interstate 95 on Saturday.

Patrick Canney knew his family was in danger and that he'd have to grab the wheel from his father in order to save their lives.

“When we started slowing down I knew something was wrong,” said Patrick.

Patrick said his father started showing signs of a seizure Saturday afternoon while they were heading southbound on 95 in Peabody. With his 9-year-old sister who has special needs sitting in the back seat, Patrick said his instincts kicked into gear.

“I grabbed the steering wheel and pulled it to the side and when we were really slow I turned the key off. I tried to put it in park. I took his phone out of his pocket and called 9-1-1,” said Patrick.

When police found the car they say Patrick had already helped Samantha out and put her safely behind a guardrail.

“She can't tell me what he did. But she is here because of him,” said Debra Canney, the 12-year-old’s mother.

Patrick’s mother credits her son with saving his family’s lives as well as other drivers on the busy road.

“I think he's an amazing little boy,” she said.

Patrick had seen his father have similar medical problems before. His mother had talked to him about what to do if a problem occurred while in the car and he said that conversation helped him to be prepared.