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Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. “Child endangered on I-85 incident”
2. “Man jumps from car with child on I-85”
A South Carolina man, accused of kidnapping his 3-year-old son, jumped out of a burning truck on Interstate 85 after setting a fire with the child inside. The incident, which left the child severely burned, led to the father’s arrest. Georgia State Patrol Sgt. J.R. Dean provided details of the Wednesday incident that unfolded following a violent assault on the child’s mother in Belton. The suspect, Joshua Bennett Dornellas, 32, led authorities on a chase before the dramatic crash at mile marker 166. The child was airlifted to Augusta Burn Center in critical condition. Dornellas faces multiple charges as investigations continue.
1. Parent-child highway escape
2. Dramatic car exit with child
Location of the Incident
The harrowing incident took place on Interstate 85 in Hart County, Georgia, where a South Carolina man, identified as Joshua Bennett Dornellas, embarked on a reckless journey that ended in tragedy. The stretch of highway became the scene of a terrifying ordeal that left a 3-year-old child severely burned and the father facing a slew of criminal charges.
The Start of the Ordeal
The chain of events began at a residence on Harris Avenue in Belton, South Carolina, where deputies were summoned following reports of a violent assault on the child’s mother by Dornellas. The situation escalated when Dornellas kidnapped his own son, triggering a frantic search and rescue operation.
The High-Speed Chase
As the maniacal journey unfolded, Georgia State Patrol officers attempted to intercept Dornellas as he crossed the state line into Hart County. Ignoring all commands to stop, Dornellas led law enforcement on a high-speed chase along Interstate 85, with smoke billowing from his truck as he set it ablaze deliberately.
The Heart-Stopping Moment
With the flames engulfing the vehicle, Dornellas made a daring escape by leaping out of the truck’s window while hurtling down the highway at approximately 55 mph. The abandoned truck careened off the road, crashing at mile marker 166 near the Carnesville\Toccoa exit, trapping the helpless child inside.
The Rescue Effort
Thanks to the swift response of troopers, deputies from Franklin and Hart counties, and their counterparts from South Carolina, the flames were extinguished, and the child was rescued from the inferno. The young victim, suffering from severe burns, was airlifted to the Augusta Burn Center in critical condition for urgent medical attention.
The Aftermath
Dornellas, now in custody, was taken to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. Meanwhile, an Anderson County deputy, who sustained hand burns during the rescue operation, received medical care at AnMed Medical Center before being discharged.
History of Violence
Shale Remein, from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, revealed that Dornellas has a troubling history of violence, with recent arrests made in connection with neglecting unsupervised children and assaulting the child’s mother. The ongoing investigation sheds light on a disturbing pattern of behaviour that has left a community in shock and disbelief.
As the authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to this tragic incident, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the innocent victim and holding the perpetrator accountable for his heinous actions. The community stands united in condemning such acts of violence and advocating for the protection of vulnerable individuals in society.
