A scared 10-year-old boy called 911 seeking help as he was so terrified that he wanted to jump out of the car that his drunken father was driving, CBS News reported.
The father named Owen Gilman, 49, of Warwick, R.I., hit another car on Wednesday night. The incident happened on Interstate 95 in Stonington. The victim was brought to the nearest hospital immediately.
The boy was panicky during the call and told 911 that he would rather jump out of the fast-moving car than crashing elsewhere. His 12-year-old sister was also in the car during the time. The call dropped while 911 was connecting the call to Connecticut State Police. In a few minutes, the police received a report that Gilman's Mercedes Benz hit the back of a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The impact was so intense that the Jeep toppled more than 50 feet off the shoulder of the highway. Gilman’s children were also brought to the hospital as they have incurred lacerations. The good news was that the other driver had no life-threatening injuries though he was being treated for blunt force trauma and some lacerations as well.
The police investigation revealed that Gilman had taken a substantial amount of marijuana and alcohol. He also failed the field sobriety test. Further search on his car led to confiscation of drug paraphernalia.
Gilman appeared in the New London Superior Court on Thursday and was charged of reckless driving risking the safety of the minors and illegal sale of a controlled substance. He was also fined for $35,000.
The judge seriously told Gilman that if he would be found guilty of the charges, he should still be thankful that his children were safe. CBS tried to reach out to Gilman but the court advised that only his parents are allowed to communicate with him.
