Bloomington PD: 11-year-old crashes SUV while driving drunken father

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Bloomington police said a drunk man told his 11-year-old son to drive the pair home from school.

The SUV ended up crashed in a ditch.

Jarvis Canada, 34, is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering a minor, a Level 6 felony; operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction, a Level 6 felony; and neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony.

According to court documents, Canada’s son was sick and his father was asked to come to school and pick the child up. Canada was allegedly drunk when he arrived at the school, his 11-year-old son later telling police his father’s intoxication was obvious by his “poor driving.”

Not long after leaving the parking lot, Canada allegedly pulled over and told his son to drive them the rest of the way home. Canada’s son told investigators he refused four times but was ultimately forced to drive.

While driving, the 11-year-old had trouble with the gas and brake — telling officers he confused the two and accidentally accelerated. Panicking, the child overcorrected and drove off the road and down a hill. The GMC Envoy came to rest in a ditch near W. 3rd Street behind an apartment complex where Canada lived.

No one was hurt in the crash but witnesses said Canada walked up into his apartment and fell asleep on the couch.

While being questioned by police, Canada allegedly admitted to borrowing the GMC Envoy from a neighbor to pick up his son from school. He also admitted to letting the 11-year-old drive, but denied it was due to being intoxicated.

Investigators noted the strong odor of alcohol on Canada’s breath during the interview. His speech was also very slurred, police said.

Canada went on to tell police officers that he hadn’t drank the day of the crash, but did have a few shots of Jim Beam Honey and a couple of glasses of wine at 12:30 a.m.

Police said Canada agreed to a field sobriety test and failed all three portions. He was then transported to the hospital for a blood draw before being arrested and taken to Monroe County Jail.

If convicted of a Level 6 felony, Canada could face up to two and a half years in prison.