Bennett : Boy, 3, badly burned in truck fire

BELTON, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – A harrowing incident in Belton, South Carolina, has left a 3-year-old boy named Bennett fighting for his life in a Georgia burn center. The young child sustained third-degree burns covering 90% of his body after his father allegedly kidnapped him and led law enforcement on a dangerous chase that ended in a fiery crash.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the situation after receiving a distress call from Bennett’s mother, who reported that the boy’s father, 31-year-old Joshua Dornellas, had violently assaulted her before fleeing with their son.

Deputies from the sheriff’s office quickly sprang into action, tracking Dornellas and Bennett without alerting them to their presence in order to avoid endangering the child or other motorists on the road.

The situation escalated as Dornellas crossed state lines into Georgia on I-85, prompting Georgia State Patrol troopers to join the pursuit. During the chase, Dornellas allegedly set fire to the vehicle with Bennett still inside, leading to a chaotic and tragic sequence of events.

As the truck filled with smoke, Dornellas made a reckless move by leaping out of the vehicle while it was still in motion, abandoning his young son to his fate. The truck ultimately crashed into an embankment and became engulfed in flames as emergency responders raced to rescue Bennett.

The heroic efforts of Georgia troopers, Georgia Motor Carrier Compliance Division officers, and South Carolina deputies from Anderson, Franklin, and Hart counties managed to extinguish the flames and rescue Bennett from the burning wreckage. Despite suffering severe burns, the young boy was airlifted to the Augusta Burn Center for urgent medical attention.

Meanwhile, Dornellas was apprehended by the Georgia State Patrol and taken to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. He now faces a litany of charges in both South Carolina and Georgia for his alleged role in the traumatic events that unfolded.

According to authorities, Dornellas has a troubling history of violence, including a previous incident where he left five children, all under the age of 11, unattended at home. Following a domestic violence charge on April 28, the mother of his children obtained a restraining order against him, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

In a statement, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office expressed solidarity with Bennett’s mother and urged the community to keep the young boy in their thoughts as he battles for survival in the trauma center.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to support Bennett’s recovery journey. As a single mother of three, Bennett’s mother, Chelsea, faces significant challenges ahead, and any donations received will go towards covering medical expenses, rehabilitation, and providing vital support for the family in this difficult time.