Rockport—Rockport-Ohio Elementary School principal Herb McKinney never paid much attention to the blue 1984 Ford F-150 that was always parked in the faculty lot everyday this year when he arrived at school.  He just figured it belonged to an early-rising faculty member who liked to get a jump start on the day.

That is until last Friday morning when McKinney was getting out of his car prior to school when that same Ford pickup came rolling slowly into the parking lot with a flat rear passenger-side tire—and 11 year old fifth grader Justin Rudd behind the wheel.

After the bewildered McKinney questioned the boy for several minutes about driving the truck, Rudd finally admitted that he had been driving to school almost every day this year to get there early and finish his homework. 

And to top it off, Rudd had his father’s permission to drive to school without a license. 

Ted Rudd, Justin’s father, says his son has been driving tractors on their 53-acre farm a few miles east of town since the age of seven.  He doesn’t see why driving the rural road to school is any different.

“I trust Justin driving my truck before I do his momma,” said the elder Rudd, “He is always careful and never drives too fast.  I am usually working early in the morning so I let him drive himself.  He hasn’t had an accident yet.” 

Even so, it appears Justin’s driving days are over, at least until he reaches the legal age.  McKinney suspended Justin from school for three days and warned him not to drive to school again.  Mr. Rudd agreed to not let Justin drive again so he stays out of trouble.

When asked about the situation, Justin said, “It looks like its back to riding the cheese-wagon.”