Inset: Isaac Kinsey. Background: Lakeland, Florida, police arrest a man accused of crashing his vehicle and fleeing into a swamp with two children (Lakeland police).
A Florida man allegedly overturned his car with a baby and a toddler inside before carrying the children into a swamp as he attempted to escape police.
Isaac Kinsey, 27, faces two counts of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, along with several DUI-related charges, according to the Lakeland Police Department.
The incident unfolded early Sept. 9 on Highway 33 near North Combee Road. Police said Kinsey drove through a road-closure sign and sandbags before the vehicle overturned at a construction site and struck tree roots.
When officers reached the crash site, they found the vehicle abandoned. Two child safety seats inside the car indicated that children may have been involved. About 30 minutes later, a police drone located Kinsey in a nearby swamp carrying a 2-year-old child and a 10-month-old baby. Officers said video showed him stumbling and falling while holding the children, leaving them submerged in the water.
Police eventually reached the three and pulled them from the swamp.
“I did not know there was a swamp right here,” Kinsey reportedly told officers as they instructed him to turn over the children.
Kinsey was arrested, and all three were taken to a hospital for treatment. Police have not said what relationship Kinsey has to the children.
According to police, Kinsey appeared impaired and acknowledged that he had been intoxicated. He also allegedly admitted that his driver’s license was suspended.
Authorities said Kinsey and the two children were fortunate to survive the crash and ordeal in the swamp.
“This incident could have ended with the loss of two innocent lives. The rapid deployment of Lakeland PD’s drone technology, along with the persistence and teamwork of responding officers, helped locate the children in an extremely difficult environment and get them the care they needed,” the department said in its release. “There is no excuse for impaired driving. We are thankful these children survived and proud of the officers whose actions helped prevent an even greater tragedy.”
Kinsey remains held without bond at the Polk County Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 13.
The post Cops rescue toddler, baby after drunken man crashes car and flees into swamp he didn’t know was there while carrying the kids: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.
