(Memphis) A North Memphis man is in jail, accused of getting into a drunk driving accident with three young children in his car.
Police say Jack Sanders tried to swerve around an 18-wheeler on Millington road Thursday night and hit a pole.
Thankfully, the children (ages 7, 6 and 5 years old) are okay.
Friday, you could still see evidence of this accident: a busted-up utility pole, glass on the ground, pieces of the car and a crumpled-up beer can.
It was that beer can that Memphis police say Sanders tried to hide when officers got to the crash.
A witness says Sanders threw it out of his car and pretended to be a passenger in the car by switching seats.
Court documents say Sanders had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and a strong stench of liquor after he crashed his car into this pole with three young children on board.
“I think it’s terrible. I do,” said Katina Isaac, a Memphis resident.
Officers say the children had no child restraints on and two women were also in the car, one with a head injury.
Police say Sanders crashed into the pole when an 18-wheeler was turning right into a parking lot and Sanders decided to speed around him, swerving off the road and into a ditch.
The driver of the 18-wheeler reported seeing Sanders try to get rid of the empty beer can.
Officers say they tried to give Sanders a field sobriety test by doing a walk and turn and standing-on-one-leg test, but Sanders said he was disabled and couldn’t do it.
Officers took Sanders to a police station and gave him a blood test.
He’s now facing a list of charges, including drunk driving and child endangerment.
“My heart goes out to the kids because they don’t know any better,” said Isaac. “They think everything is OK and their lives are in danger.”
