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Another Drunk Dad Has 9-Year-Old Drive: Cops

Parents: If your kid can count his age on his hands, he's not a designated driver

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 26, 2011 11:23 AM CDT

(Newser) – A few weeks ago, a boozed-up father had his daughter climb on a booster seat and take him shopping; now childhood designated-driving is turning into a quasi-epidemic. A Wyoming man visiting Orlando felt he and his wife had had a few too many on Saturday, so he instructed his son, age 9, to drive the van, MyFox Orlando reports. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the kid drove into the arm bar of a security gate—and a deputy happened to witness the crash, notes the AP.

Nathan Sikkenga, 31, has been charged with child neglect. And lest you think "quasi-epidemic" is an overstatement, the Miami New Times reports that this is at least the third such incident in the state in recent memory: A 10-year-old hit several cars and a house last year during a "driving lesson"; and an 11-year-old crashed an SUV while "learning to drive" in July. (Click for another "Parent of the Year" story.)

The tale of yet another 9-year-old driver.
The tale of yet another 9-year-old driver.   (©aparrish)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Chitrix
Oct 26, 2011 8:00 PM CDT
I seriously would like to know W T F is wrong with theses so called parents????? Bad enough to get loaded around your kids but then tell them to drive????
finkster
Oct 26, 2011 11:37 AM CDT
I practiced on an old VW Bug when I was just 13 years old in an open field. Of course my parents didn't know....
carbonatedturtle
Oct 26, 2011 11:29 AM CDT
And this is exactly why we need to remove rednecks from society and put them in special homes where they can't hurt themselves or anyone else.
 

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