LAKELAND, Fla. — Shocking drone footage released by police shows a Florida man accused of driving drunk carrying his 2-year-old and 10-month-old children through a dark, swampy marsh after crashing his vehicle — falling repeatedly and plunging the children into standing water as officers closed in.
Lakeland police say 27-year-old Isaac Kinsey crashed in the early morning hours of Sept. 9 on Highway 33 at North Combee Road. His vehicle tore through a road-closure sign and sandbags before slamming into a construction area and coming to rest against tree roots. Damage was consistent with a rollover, according to the department.
When officers arrived, Kinsey had already fled on foot. Two empty child safety seats inside the wrecked vehicle immediately triggered a search. In total darkness, a police drone spotted Kinsey about 30 minutes later in a wooded, swampy area south of the crash site. He was carrying both children.
The drone video shows Kinsey struggling through tall grass and water, falling multiple times. Police said the children were submerged in standing water. At one point, officers said, he set the 2-year-old down and continued with only the infant, falling again. Florida wetlands in that area are known to harbor alligators.
Officers reached the three, rescued the children, and took Kinsey into custody. Both children were taken to Lakeland Regional Health, treated for injuries, and later released. Kinsey was also treated at the hospital. He showed signs of impairment and told officers he was intoxicated and driving on a suspended license, police said.
Kinsey faces 11 charges: eight misdemeanors and three felonies, including two counts of negligent child abuse with great bodily harm.
Lakeland Police Chief Sammy Taylor Jr. said the outcome could have been far worse.“This incident could very easily have ended with the loss of two innocent young lives,” Taylor said. “The actions of our responding officers and particularly the rapid deployment and effective use of our drone technology allowed us to locate these children in an extremely difficult environment and get them the medical care they needed.”
Police emphasized there is no excuse for impaired driving, especially with young children in the vehicle. The case is a reminder, they said, of how quickly a crash and a decision to run can put the most vulnerable lives at risk.
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