– Boy burned in truck fire after father’s chase
– Young child badly injured in vehicle blaze caused by father’s pursuit.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
BELTON, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – A 3-year-old South Carolina boy is fighting for his life in a Georgia burn center after sustaining third degree burns in a tragic incident involving his father.
The young boy, identified as Bennett, was allegedly kidnapped by his father, 31-year-old Joshua Dornellas, following a violent assault on the boy’s mother in their home in Belton, South Carolina. This harrowing event unfolded on Wednesday, prompting a response from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.
According to reports, deputies were alerted to the situation and began tracking Dornellas, who had fled the scene with Bennett in tow. As they followed the suspect in an unmarked car, they observed Dornellas making threats against the child’s life.
The situation escalated further as Dornellas crossed state lines into Georgia on I-85, where Georgia State Patrol troopers initiated a pursuit. Tragically, Dornellas is said to have intentionally set a fire within the vehicle, which ultimately led to a fiery crash.
In a desperate attempt to escape, Dornellas jumped out of the moving vehicle, leaving his son trapped inside as it careened into an embankment and caught fire. Authorities believe Dornellas had sinister intentions to harm the young child.
Despite the chaotic scene, troopers, officers, and deputies from both Georgia and South Carolina acted swiftly to extinguish the flames and rescue Bennett from the burning vehicle. The boy sustained severe burns covering 90% of his body and was airlifted to the Augusta Burn Center for urgent medical care.
Dornellas was taken into custody by the Georgia State Patrol and transported to a medical facility for treatment of his injuries. He now faces a multitude of charges in both South Carolina and Georgia, including kidnapping and arson.
This tragic incident has shed light on Dornellas’ history of violence, with previous incidents involving neglect of his children and domestic violence. The community has rallied around Bennett’s mother, Chelsea, as she navigates this unimaginable ordeal.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Bennett and his family during this challenging time. Donations will go towards covering medical expenses, rehabilitation, and providing much-needed support for the young boy and his loved ones.
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– Boy badly burned after father set truck on fire
– Father set truck on fire, boy badly burned.
