Drunk Parents + Drunk Designated Driver = 3 Children Injured in Crash & Handed to Child Services
Three children were placed in the hands of L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services this morning after the youngsters experienced a traumatic car crash involving two drunk drivers. The accident occurred on Van Nuys Boulevard just north of Valerio Street around 12:30am on Monday.
The responsible-ish parents of the three children had been drinking and called a seemingly dependable friend to drive the family home. Unbeknownst to the intoxicated parents, the friend was also under the influence but agreed to transport the family in his van. The driver of the Mustang with which the van collided was also DUI.
None of the children were properly secured in the van. A 4-month-old girl sat in a foot washtub instead of a baby car seat, a 2-year-old boy, who was also not placed in a child safety seat, suffered a red bruise on his cheek and a 4-year-old girl sitting between her parents on a back seat had a lump on her left cheek. Both parents and the driver also endured minor injuries. Mom had a lump on her head, and both Dad and the driver suffered abrasions. The driver of the Mustang was rushed to the hospital for treatment of more serious injuries.
Both drivers will face DUI charges, and the driver of the van will be booked on three counts of felony child endangerment. "It was his responsibility to make sure the children were in the proper restraints when he was driving," said Sgt. Don Kelly of the L.A. Police Department's Valley Traffic Division, according to The Daily Breeze.
Investigators are in discussions with the Department of Children and Family Services to determine whether the mother should also face charges.
