Boy severely burned after father set truck on fire, leaped from window during pursuit by authorities
Child critically injured when father ignites vehicle, jumps out of window during police chase.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
BELTON, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – In a harrowing incident that has shocked the community of Belton, South Carolina, a 3-year-old boy named Bennett is currently fighting for his life in a Georgia burn center after sustaining third degree burns covering 90% of his body. The young boy’s ordeal began when his father, 31-year-old Joshua Dornellas, allegedly kidnapped him following a violent assault on the boy’s mother.
According to reports from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a residence in Belton after Dornellas violently assaulted Bennett’s mother and then abducted the child. The authorities swiftly initiated a search for the father and son duo.
With Bennett in the front seat of the vehicle, Dornellas led law enforcement on a high-speed chase across state lines, with the suspect reportedly making threats against the young boy’s life. Deputies, in an effort to ensure the safety of the child, followed the suspect discreetly without activating emergency lights.
The pursuit escalated as Dornellas entered Georgia on I-85, prompting Georgia State Patrol troopers to join the chase. Tragically, during the pursuit, the father allegedly set the vehicle ablaze, creating a life-threatening situation for Bennett.
As the truck filled with smoke, Dornellas purportedly made a daring escape by jumping out of the moving vehicle, leaving his son behind. The truck ultimately crashed into an embankment and burst into flames with Bennett trapped inside, leading to catastrophic injuries.
The ensuing chaos prompted a multi-agency response, with Georgia troopers, Georgia Motor Carrier Compliance Division officers, and law enforcement from South Carolina collaborating to extinguish the blaze and rescue Bennett from the burning wreckage. The child was swiftly airlifted to the Augusta Burn Center for urgent medical treatment.
Meanwhile, Dornellas was apprehended by the Georgia State Patrol and taken to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries sustained during the incident. The father now faces a litany of charges in both South Carolina and Georgia for his alleged actions.
Disturbingly, authorities revealed that Dornellas had a history of violence, including a recent incident where he left five children, all under the age of 11, unsupervised at home. This troubling behaviour culminated in a domestic violence charge and a protective order being filed against him by the mother of his children.
In a statement, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office expressed solidarity with Bennett’s mother, Chelsea, as she navigates this traumatic ordeal. The community has been urged to offer their prayers and support for the young boy as he battles for his life in the trauma center.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist Bennett’s family, particularly his single mother Chelsea, in covering the extensive medical expenses and rehabilitation costs. Donations to the fundraiser will aid in providing essential support for Bennett’s recovery and the family’s well-being.
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– Boy badly burned after father set truck on fire
– Father jumps out window during chase with son.
