- Brett Reynolds, 36, charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, vehicular assault, leaving scene of accident and endangering the welfare of a child
- Reynolds, of upstate New York, is accused of taking his mother’s car on a joyride and allowing his daughter to steer while he worked pedals
- Girl suffered a fractured arm and rib, a punctured lung and head injuries when the car hit an embankment and then a tree
An eight-year-old girl was hospitalized with serious injuries last week after a car crashed in upstate New York as the child steered the vehicle while sitting on her father’s lap.
State police say 36-year-old Brett Reynolds, of Whitehall, took his mother’s silver Honda sedan for a joyride late Tuesday without permission and allowed his daughter to steer while Reynolds worked the pedals.
Troopers say the girl, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered a fractured arm and rib, a punctured lung and head injuries when the car hit an embankment and then a tree.
Brett Reynolds is accused of taking his mother’s car on a joyride and allowing his eight-year-old daughter to sit on his lap and steer the car, resulting in a crash
Police say Reynolds then left his injured daughter crying outside of a family member’s home in Whitehall at around 11.30pm, before fleeing the scene.
The eight-year-old was rushed to Albany Medical Center to be treated for her injuries, which are not life-threatening, reported Glens Falls Post-Star.
Reynolds was arrested by police the next day on an unrelated warrant while seeking treatment at Glens Falls Hospital for facial injuries.
In a booking photo taken after his arrest, the 38-year-old’s left eye appears dark-purple and swollen, and he seems to have cuts to the left side of his face.
The 38-year-old dad was charged with first-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, first-degree vehicular assault, leaving the scene of a serious personal injury accident and endangering the welfare of a child. Additional charges against Reynolds are pending.
He’s being held in Washington County Jail without bail.
Reynolds has a long criminal history that includes a felony DUI conviction from 2011 that sent him to state prison.