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| YOUR TOWN: Caroline | Culpeper | King George | Fredericksburg | Orange | Spotsylvania | Stafford | Westmoreland | |
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Tow-truck drivers charged after towing away toddler
The Patriot Towing employees didn’t realize their early afternoon mistake until getting back to the business with the vehicle, police said.
Date published: 12/8/2008
BY KEITH EPPS
Two tow-truck drivers were charged with felonies yesterday after they towed away a vehicle without realizing there was a small child inside, police said. The Patriot Towing employees didn’t realize their early afternoon mistake until getting back to the business with the vehicle, a Mazda Protege, sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy said. The employees immediately called the Sheriff’s Office and reported what happened. That call came four minutes after the 2-year-old girl’s mother called to report a stolen car and missing child. According to police, the towing employees were on the lookout for improperly parked vehicles in the Thomas Jefferson Place complex when the baby’s mother double parked in front of her mother’s car in the 1200 block of Thomas Jefferson Place. The mother told police that she ran into the residence about 12:45 p.m. to talk to some people and left the car running and unlocked. The child was in a car seat in the back. The woman said she came out about five minutes later and the car was gone. She immediately called 911. Four minutes later, the mystery was solved. The employees apparently had not looked inside the car before hooking it up. The business is about six miles from where the car was towed, police said. Jason Bryant, 25, of Spotsylvania and Derek Miller, 21, of Stafford were both charged with felony child endangerment. Bryant, the driver, was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail under a $1,000 bond. Miller was released on an unsecured bond. The child, who was unharmed, was turned over to her mother. Kennedy said he isn’t sure what happened to the car.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 12/8/2008
I support Patriot
(posted by
shetows2
, Dec. 10, 2008 4:32 pm)
There is NO law that states we must inventory the contents of a vehicle at the scene. Also, those of you in the tow business know that when a car is on your wheel lift, you can't even see in the back seat from the front of the car. How was it the driver's fault that the child was in the car? It's a terrible situation, however, he should not have been arrested. The fault falls on the "mother" for leaving her child in the car, unlocked in a not so safe neighborhood, and running with the keys in the ignition.
way to go everyone!
(posted by
fugyou
, Dec. 9, 2008 5:59 pm)
Tow truck drivers = members of the Fred brain trust no doubt. Mom = president of the club. Who leaves a two year old in a running vehicle without supervision???? Good lord people. It's like Dumb and Dumber 'round here.
You should never, ever leave your keys in your unattended vehicle.
(posted by
kspecial
, Dec. 9, 2008 11:24 am)
It IS illegal in MANY jurisdictions across the country and can
get you ticketed. (Or worse yet, a stolen vehicle. Or worse yet,
your stolen vehicle is used in a crime, then confiscated from
you.)
There aught to be a law. HR-2711 failed passage in 2007 legislature.
(posted by
kspecial
, Dec. 9, 2008 11:19 am)
Child unattended in a car; penalty.Provides that it is
unlawful for any person who is responsible for a child
younger than six years of age to leave such child
unattended in a motor vehicle if the conditions within the
vehicle or in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle,including
outside temperature,present a risk to the health or safety of
the child. The penalty for a first offense is a $100 civil
penalty, for a second offense a Class 4 misdemeanor,and
for a third or subsequent offense a Class 3 misdmeanor
you should never
(posted by
sahmom
, Dec. 9, 2008 8:16 am)
leave your child in a car if you are out of sight of the car. Especially if if they are strapped in a car seat.
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