Imogen holds her swerve in car drama

Peta Barkus with her daughter Imogen, 10. Imogen saved her mum and sister by taking the wheel and driving the car when her mother blacked out. PIC: Ric Frearson Source: The Courier-Mail

WHEN 10-year-old Imogen Barkus' mother Peta blacked out at the wheel of her car on a busy Brisbane road, the quick-witted youngster sprang into action.

After Mrs Barkus, 40, suddenly slumped forward in her seat on Monday during the afternoon peak hour rush on Cavendish Rd, Coorparoo, Imogen reached over from the passenger seat and grabbed the steering wheel.

With her three-year-old sister in the back, Imogen screamed at her mum to wake up and take her foot off the accelerator, but to no avail.

Instead, the cool-headed girl was forced to dodge cars, power poles, brick walls and footpaths for two blocks before Peta's feet slipped from the pedals and the car came to a stop.

She then dialled 000 and called for an ambulance to help her mother, who was rushed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Imogen was modest about her starring role despite being hailed as a hero.

"I steered the car and missed a brick wall and the (power) poles and I went up on the kerb," she said.

"It was too easy to steer, and I almost crashed, but I didn't. The police called me a hero and now every teacher at school knows."

Mrs Barkus, who has no history of serious illness and who still does not know why she blacked out, said she was overwhelmed by Imogen's bravery and amazed she had the skill to drive a car, especially in such a stressful situation.

"She showed a lot of responsibility for a child her age," Mrs Barkus said.

Coorparoo Acting Senior Sergeant Craig Frazer said most 10 year olds would struggle if put in the same situation.

"I've worked in police stations across Queensland and I've never heard of anything like it," he said.

"It's something you see on TV. It's one chance in 1000."

Her proud dad, Adrian Barkus, said the incident was out of character for Imogen.

"She's (usually) such a shy and unsure type of girl (but) I told her she was a little hero and she had saved her and her mother's life," Mr Barkus said.

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