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Driver charged in incident that bounced boy, 5, out of back of truck

Boy, 5, ejected from bed of pickup truck in Miami Twp.

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By Angela Watson Gay Updated 10:37 PM Tuesday, November 10, 2009

MIAMI TWP., Montgomery County — The 5-year-old boy injured after he was ejected from the bed of a pickup truck is out of a hospital, but his mother’s boyfriend now faces criminal charges.

Ryan Lucas, 21, has been charged with felony child endangering and misdemeanor operating a vehicle intoxicated (OVI), Miami Twp. police Maj. John Dipietro said.

“The child’s going to be OK,” DiPietro said Tuesday night, Nov. 10. “I really hope that this is a lesson learned to those folks who’d consider taking children or anybody in the bed of a pick up truck.”

Lucas was driving the pickup on Manning Road on Monday with the boy riding in the bed of the truck. The boy’s mother was trailing in a separate vehicle, police believe, because she and Lucas were in the process of moving property.

Lucas drove off the right side of the road, struck a mailbox and then a drainage culvert. The impact “bounced” the child out of the truck, DiPietro said.

A witness told police the child bounced in the truck bed once, then bounced a second time and hit a tree before falling to the ground.

He was conscious when emergency crews arrived and took him by CareFlight to Children’s Medical Center, DiPietro said.

Police found empty beer cans in the back of truck and Lucas’ blood alcohol tested over the legal limit.

“Our immediate concern is the safety of the child,” DiPietro said. “We’ve been sharing information with the folks at Care House (Child Advocacy Center) and Montgomery County Children Service is also aware of the situation.”

It’s not immediately known if the boy’s mother could face charges because the investigation is continuing, DiPietro said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2374 or anwatson@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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