Father dragged under car while teaching 9-year-old son how to back up, police say

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) - Police say an Ohio father was hospitalized after his 9-year-old son accidentally hit him during a lesson on backing up a car in an incident that was caught on video.

Clejuan Williams, 36, was allegedly intoxicated while attempting to teach his 9-year-old son how to drive Sunday, according to court records. The father allegedly told his son to press down on a pedal, and not knowing which one, the boy pressed down on the gas pedal. The car traveled backwards and hit a pole across the street, WTVG reports.

Williams was standing inside of the door jam on the driver side, according to police reports, and when the car began to reverse, he was knocked over and dragged under it.

“It is heartbreaking to see because, as a parent, when you see that happening, you think about how it can be prevented,” Toledo Police Officer Prince Flores said.

Toledo Fire and Rescue crews took Williams to the hospital. His condition is unknown at this time.

Another child was reportedly in the car’s back seat at the time of the incident. Neither of the children was injured.

Police say Williams' son was too young to be behind the wheel and his father failed to protect him.

“As a parent, your job is to make sure that your kids are safe and to make sound decisions, and you want to make sure that you’re putting them in the best possible position to be OK," Flores said. “You don’t want to put them in a position that they are not ready for or mature enough to realize."

Court records show Williams is facing charges of wrongful entrustment of motor vehicle and endangering children.

The incident is under investigation.

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