A Bethany man has been charged in Daviess County with three felonies after allegedly letting his 12-year-old son drive a utility terrain vehicle on December 5th, and the vehicle rolling on Beacon Avenue near 260th Street.
Online court information shows 38-year-old Clifford McCrary has been charged with abuse or neglect of a child—no sexual contact, endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk—first degree—first offense—no sexual conduct, and leaving the scene of an accident—physical injury. He also faces misdemeanors of unlawfully operating a utility vehicle in a careless manner—endanger person or property of another and caused or knowingly permitted a child or ward under age 16 to drive a motor vehicle as well as an infraction of driver fail to secure child 80 pounds or more or over four foot, nine inches in booster seat/safety belt.
A probable cause statement from the Highway Patrol says an officer was notified of the crash December 6th after McCrary’s son was transported to the Harrison County Community Hospital of Bethany for serious injuries, including broken clavicles, an air leak in his chest cavity, a broken nose, a fracture in his spine, and several abrasions.
Several witnesses advised McCrary had consumed alcohol before the crash and, after the crash, allegedly allowed his 15-year-old son to drive his truck from Coffey to Bethany without a license.
The probable cause statement notes he has one driving while intoxicated conviction from 2008 and allows his 15-year-old son to drink alcohol.
