boy badly burned after father set truck on fire
boy jumped out window during chase with father.
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 harrowing incident involving his father.
The young boy, identified as Bennett, was the victim of a violent assault by his father, 31-year-old Joshua Dornellas, who allegedly kidnapped him from their home in Belton, South Carolina, sparking a dramatic chain of events that culminated in a fiery crash.
According to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the residence after Dornellas attacked the boy’s mother before fleeing with Bennett. The authorities launched a pursuit, tracking the suspect without activating their emergency lights to avoid endangering the child and other drivers on the road.
The pursuit crossed state lines into Georgia, where State Patrol troopers joined the chase. As the tense situation unfolded, Dornellas reportedly ignited a fire in the vehicle, prompting a dangerous escalation of events.
In a shocking turn of events, Dornellas leapt from the moving truck at a speed of 55 miles per hour, leaving his son trapped inside as the vehicle careened off the road and burst into flames. Authorities believe Dornellas had sinister intentions of harming the child.
Fortunately, a swift response from law enforcement officers from multiple jurisdictions led to the rescue of the young boy. Emergency responders managed to extract Bennett from the burning wreckage and airlifted him to the Augusta Burn Center for urgent medical treatment.
Meanwhile, Dornellas was apprehended by authorities and taken to a local medical facility for treatment of his injuries. He now faces a litany of charges in both South Carolina and Georgia for his role in the violent incident.
Deputies revealed that Dornellas has a troubling history of violence, including leaving his five young children unsupervised and a recent domestic violence charge. The community has rallied behind Bennett’s mother, Chelsea, as she navigates this traumatic ordeal.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to support Bennett’s ongoing medical care and the family’s needs during this challenging time.
As the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident, they urge the community to keep Bennett and his family in their thoughts and prayers as the young boy fights for his life.
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boy badly burned father set truck fire jumped window chase officials say.
