Drunk dad lets 8-year-old drive van
Father charged when 8-year-old driver causes damage:
This story is almost comical if it wasn’t so dangerous.
34-year-old Mark A. Belanger of Sarasota, Fla. was arrested in Bradenton for letting his 8-year-old son drive his van. He claimed he was ‘feeling woozy’ and wanted to have a bonding moment with his son. The son then proceeded to take out two trees and almost hit a couple of pedestrians.
When police rolled up dear old dad fell literally flat on his face. The mugshot confirms that. The boy said his father was taking ‘liquid medicine’ which turned out to be a bottle of Canadian whiskey.
There’s nothing like jeopardizing not only your son’s life but those of innocent bystanders just so you could get your drink on. I have no sympathy for drunks like this.
Thanks to LadyJade for the tip.
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April 20th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Growing up on a farm we all knew how to drive from a very young age but we had neighbours who taught their kids the road rules & made sure they would be able to safely drive into town if required…the mother had really bad diabetes that was completely out of control (anyone rememebr Shelby from Steel Magnolias?)…upshot is, by the time their oldest son was 12 he had driven his mum to emergency 4 times. Their Dad didn’t trust the ambulance to arrive soon enough.
Possibly no different but if the kid knew how to drive he was probably safer than many legally licenced drivers out there!
No excuse for this dad though.
February 12th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Praise God the child wasn’t hurt. Hopefully dad will go to rehab and get himself straightened out so he can see his kid again. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of a drunk parent letting a young child drive them home. Too much alcohol = IDIOT
February 12th, 2009 at 9:32 am
It’s heartwarming to see this guy is raising his son with all the right values. Liquid medicine, indeed… who wants to bet the son is no more than twelve when he starts “self-medicating” too?
If you have to be a drunken waste of skin s***-bag, try doing it at home where you don’t risk hurting anyone else. Bonus: with the kid around, you always have someone to hold your hair back while you puke!
February 12th, 2009 at 3:16 am
I doubt this is a rare thing. I used to have a friend who said she had to do this sortof thing long before she had her license. Granted I don’t think it was quite from the age of 8 but 10 bucks says it was from the age of 10 or 12.
February 12th, 2009 at 3:04 am
Good grief…bonding moments takes on a new low. I remember driving with my permit at 16 and my dad was very attentive and nervous – how could this twit get plastered and let his 8 year old drive and miss people and take out two trees?
Golly, if I would’ve taken a turn to sharply I’d get told to pull over – but the first tree didn’t clue in this loser? o.O