Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Police: Man takes Xanax, lets 8-year-old son drive

AP story here.

Feb 11th, 2009 BRADENTON, Fla. -- Police arrested a 34-year-old man they said let his 8-year-old son drive a van just before midnight Sunday. A Bradenton police report said the boy hit a two trees and nearly hit two pedestrians in a parking lot when his father let him drive.

The father told police that he had taken Xanax, used to treat anxiety and panic attacks, and was "feeling woozy and didn't want to drive." He said he that he thought letting his son drive would be a "bonding moment."

The boy told police his father took "liquid medicine in order to feel better," pointing to an empty whiskey bottle in the vehicle.

The man faces charges of child abuse and permitting an unlicensed driver to drive. He remained in jail Wednesday on a $10,120 bond.

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