Crime & Safety
7-Year-Old Boy Killed By DWI Driver Who Drove Onto Palmetto Sidewalk: Police
The boy's father tried to push him out of a way as the van headed toward them while they walked on a Palmetto sidewalk, police said.
PALMETTO, FL — A 7-year-old boy was killed by a DWI driver in Palmetto Wednesday evening, Palmetto police Chief Scott D. Tyler said in a news release.
Around 6:45 p.m., Palmetto police responded to a traffic crash involving a pedestrian at 4th Street W. and 8th Avenue W.
Aaron Naylor, 35, of Parrish was traveling south on 8th Avenue W. when he drove his Ford van off the road and onto the sidewalk, hitting the boy, who was walking with his father, Tyler said.
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The father tried to push his son out of the way when he saw the van heading toward them.
The 7-year-old was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
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Naylor was brought to Manatee Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.
Following an investigation, he was charged with DWI manslaughter and also faces several drug charges, Tyler said. He was booked into Manatee County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
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