Two Southwest Florida Grandparents Busted for Towing Child Behind SUV
Statistically, kids may be safer when they drive with their grandparents — but not in the case of two Sarasota grandparents who decided it would be fun to drink, drive and tow their seven-year-old granddaughter behind their SUV in her toy car.
Sarasota County Sheriff’s Deputies were traveling eastbound on Clark Road when they spotted the girl being towed up a parallel access road by her grandfather while her grandmother cheered her on from the cargo area of the truck, according to The Herald Tribune. The plastic Hot Wheels car was attached to the trailer hitch by two dog leashes that had been strung together. The child was wearing a bathing suit and was not wearing a helmet.
Deputies reported that the girl was unhurt.
According to the arrest report, both the grandparents admitted that they had been drinking. One deputy reported he smelled alcohol coming from the grandfather, whose license had been revoked after three DUI convictions. His wife told the deputies that she knew dragging the child behind the SUV was dangerous, but stated, “they were just having fun and had been doing this all day.”
The girl’s father, who picked up his daughter at the scene, was not having fun. According to the deputies, he became verbally upset with his mother before taking the child away.
The grandfather was arrested and charged with DUI and child endangerment. The grandmother was also arrested and charged with child endangerment.
It’s all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Luckily, this child wasn’t hurt, but irresponsible, negligent behavior results in injury far too often. If you have been injured due to another person’s careless behavior, you can seek compensation for medical bills and other damages. Call a Sarasota personal injury attorney at Farah & Farah today to discuss your case. We’re at (800) 533-3555.
