Drunk driving is never OK. But the fact that parents would get behind the wheel of a vehicle while impaired is unfathomable. Recently, a Kentucky boy jumped from a truck driven by his intoxicated father — and he’s now in a coma.
Austin Brooks, 40, was allegedly drunk and on his way to purchase more beer at the time of the incident. The man’s son allegedly jumped out of the bed of the truck out of fear for his life. And now, Brooks faces serious charges as a result of the boy’s injuries.
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The father allegedly went on a beer run while drunk in late November.
On November 23, Brooks reportedly drove while intoxicated to buy more beer in Scott County, Kentucky. His son and nephew rode in the bed of his pickup truck, the nephew told law enforcement, per WKYT. As the nephew detailed, an impaired Brooks allegedly drove too fast for the wet road conditions.
At one point, the son and nephew were concerned he would get on the interstate.
As Brooks drove near Love’s Truck Stop, the nephew and son were worried he would drive onto an interstate. The boys allegedly banged on the truck’s cab to get Brooks’ attention, but he paid them no attention.
They jumped out but he never stopped.
Because Brooks was reportedly drunk, the boys feared for their lives. They chose to jump out of the bed of the moving truck, according to an arrest citation, per the New York Post. Brooks never stopped the vehicle after the boys jumped.
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Sadly, the son is still in a coma.
Brooks’ nephew received minor injuries after jumping from the moving truck. His son, however, was not as lucky. The boy is reportedly still in a coma at the University of Kentucky Hospital with a possible brain injury, according to the citation, per the Post.
The intoxicated father has been charged.
As a result of the incident, Brooks faces multiple charges. They include endangering the welfare of a minor, wanton endangerment, and leaving the scene of an accident, the Post reported. No other details are available thus far.
