A 12-year-old New Jersey girl steered a car to safety when her grandfather died at the wheel with his foot on the accelerator.

loading...

Miranda Bowman was returning to her Burlington Township home after spending the day watching 63-year-old Paul Parker race go-karts Tuesday.

Bowman said her grandfather told her that he didn't feel well and felt scared before closing his eyes and putting his head on the glass. The girl said she had a "three second panic," then climbed under the steering wheel and pressed the brake with her hands as the car approached 80 mph.

Bowman then continued to brake with her feet while steering the vehicle toward a wooded area.

She was not injured in the crash. Relatives say her grandfather died of a heart attack.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM