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

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.)