ROCHESTER, Ind. (AP) — Two brothers, ages 3 and 5, took their mother's van on a 5-mile ride in northern Indiana, crossing a four-lane highway, before crashing into a pile of dirt and emerging unhurt, their family said.

The boys began Saturday morning as usual watching cartoons, but later took the van keys from their mother's purse and took off, their family said.

Chase and Chandler Bright both sat in the driver's seat to steer the van, leaving their mother, Heather Bright, wondering how they reached the pedals.

"It amazes me," she said. "I was like, 'Oh my God, No! This cannot be happening.'"

The boys said they wanted to go visit their grandfather, a police accident report said.

The boys' other grandfather, Mike Bright, found them at the U.S. 31 bypass, where he said older brother Chase was careful and looked both ways before successfully crossing the four-lane highway some 45 miles south of South Bend.

But the boys later missed a turn onto a street, drove through a fence of a fertilizer business and crashed into a pile of dirt. They emerged without a bruise, and the van only had a flat tire and some minor damage.

Chase, who is fascinated with vehicles, apologized for wrecking the van, his mother said. And security at their home was tighter now.

"We got this house locked down like Fort Knox," she said. "I'm going to have to sleep with the keys around my neck now."

By Mrsheidi on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 01:25 pm:

Or...she could possibly watch her kids closer?? hhhmmmm??? crazy...

By Amecmom on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 01:41 pm:

Wow ... Well, their name is Bright after all ...

Ame

By My2cuties on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 02:12 pm:

what?!! How in the world could that happen? ..

By Kaye on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 03:42 pm:

I can see how that can happen. My kids were/are the type to be up for a long time before I wake up. MOst of the time they hang out in their rooms to play. Also if I had heard the tv on upstairs I don't think it would have crossed my mind to walk up there and make sure they were okay.

By Marcia on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 10:42 pm:

I can see things happening, too. My kids aren't always where I am.
I'm glad they were ok!!

By Tink on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 11:36 pm:

Ditto Heidi!

That poor woman! She's very lucky.

By Lauram on Sunday, May 8, 2005 - 01:06 pm:

I can totally see how this could happen. We have many times thought of getting an alarm system to keep the children IN. Kids who are active have these "plans" that you don't always get to intervene until they are carried through. I'm so glad they weren't hurt....

By Lauram on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 09:08 am:

I told dh this story and he said, "It's a good thing we have stick shifts." And our driveway goes uphill....

By Emily7 on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 12:58 pm:

I don't see how it can happen. I have VERY inquisitive kids & because of that I have a lock on the screen door they can't reach. It gets locked before bed & stays locked all day long unless we are outside. I also have child monitors in both of their rooms & can hear when they wake up & that is when I get up.

By Debbie on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 01:02 pm:

We got dead bolts for the top of our doors after ds #2 started walking. He was into everything and would just go outside whenever he wanted. If I didn't have those, I could see this same thing happening to us. Now, at age 4, ds is very into cars and I wouldn't put it past him to "test drive" one if he got a chance!

By Lauram on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 01:59 pm:

I have locks on all my doors too. My kids just unlock them. They are very high- but they just pull a chair over.

By Conni on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 11:12 pm:

We set our alarm sys on our house to beep when a door leading outside is opened...

Scary story!!!