CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — The Chesterfield Police Department on Tuesday honored a young hero for his quick thinking and immediate action when his mother had a seizure behind the wheel of a car.
Benson Crumbacher, 7, on Feb. 3 was riding in the family car to a basketball game with his mother and sister, Bailey, when he noticed his mom looked disoriented and was losing consciousness in the driver's seat, according to a Facebook post from the police department.
Knowing his mother no longer had control of the car, Crumbacher climbed into her lap, took control of the wheel and steered the car into a nearby parking lot before getting out and seeking help from adults in the area.
Police said the boy's prompt actions saved himself, his mother, his sister and other motorists in the area from serious injury.
Due to his heroic actions, Chief Cheryl Funkhouser awarded Crumbacher the Citizen Service Award, which is the highest award a citizen can receive from the department, on Tuesday. He received the award with his family by his side.
"Congratulations, Benson, and job well done," the department wrote on Facebook. "Your mother and entire family are lucky to have a great young man such as yourself. Continue to be a positive beacon for your family; we here at CPD salute you!"
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