Clinton Earl Johnson Jr. (Angelina County Jail).
A Texas man is behind bars after his 10-year-old daughter got behind the wheel of his truck — at his direction — and struck and killed his 6-year-old stepson, according to cops.
Jail records show 31-year-old Clinton Earl Johnson Jr. stands accused of criminal negligent homicide in the fatal incident that occurred Sunday afternoon in Lufkin, a city in the far east part of the Longhorn State. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by local ABC affiliate KTRE, Johnson and his family were outside grilling. The girl was riding a tricycle while the boy sat on the porch playing on his mother’s phone.
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The girl’s mother told investigators that Johnson’s truck was in the way of her riding her tricycle, so he allegedly told the girl to “scoot it up.” Her mother reportedly later said the girl “got confused and got on the gas” causing the truck to slam into the porch. When deputies from the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene, they found several boards and poles on the ground.
The boy also was on the ground in front of the pickup truck.
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Paramedics rushed the boy, who has not been publicly identified, to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Johnson reportedly told cops that the girl has driven the truck on back roads before. Deputies also could reportedly smell alcohol on Johnson and the mother and they admitted to having three or four drinks each.
Cops took Johnson to the Angelina County Jail where he has since posted a $3,000 bond. It’s unclear if he has obtained an attorney or when he is next scheduled to appear in court.
