Florida Dad Allegedly Drunkenly Drove 118 MPH With Kids Sleeping In Backseat

A Florida father is facing charges for allegedly drunkenly driving 118 miles per hour while his young children slept in the backseat, authorities said.

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Thomas Jenkinson was driving northbound on Interstate 95 at around 2:20 a.m. Sunday when he spotted a Chevy Equinox “about to do a flyby, coming up behind him at mach speed.” As Jenkinson prepared to conduct a traffic stop, he saw the suspect vehicle hit the brakes, but not before radar indicated it was traveling approximately 118 mph.

After pulling over to the center median, Jenkinson observed a smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle, which was driven by Juan Espinosa. But the “biggest” shock was finding Espinosa’s wife in the passenger seat and his two children, ages 1 and 8, sleeping in the backseat.

“Folks no matter how many times we say it, people continue to put their lives at risk, the innocent lives of our citizens on the roadway, and in this case, the people who he should love and care for the most, his family,” Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a statement.

Espinosa was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and child neglect without great bodily harm.