Police: Drunk parents had boy, 9, drive

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a Wyoming man was arrested after he and his wife allegedly made their 9-year-old son drive because they were drunk.

The Florida Highway Patrol said they responded to a report of a crash around 11:46 p.m. Saturday at the Sheraton Vistana Resort in Orlando and they arrived to find the 9-year-old had crashed his parents' van through a security gate arm, the Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday.

Nathan Sikkenga, 31, of Gillette, Wyo., told officers he and his wife had instructed the boy to drive them in the van because they had consumed too much alcohol to operate the vehicle.

Sikkenga was arrested and charged with neglecting a child without great harm. He was released after posting $2,500 bond.