A drunk driving father bolted with one of his sons after he hit a tree while fleeing police, leaving his other son injured at the scene.
The father, Edward L. Fowler, 38, has been ordered to serve 62 days of an 11-month, 29-day sentence for evading arrest, DUI and driving on a revoked license. His sentence was handed down by General Sessions Judge Bill Locke after Fowler opted to forgo a hearing and enter a guilty plea during arraignment.
He was additionally directed to perform 24 hours public service work, attend DUI class and lose his driver license for one year. He was also instructed to attend batterer intervention class on a separate case of domestic assault.
It was the domestic incident that prompted police to go to Mystik Market on Old Smithville Road. When McMinnville policeman Derrick Dale arrived, he saw Fowler leaving the scene in a Chevy Cavalier.
“The driver increased his speed, trying to pull away,” Dale recalled, noting he caught up to the vehicle on Sunset Drive as the suspect wrecked. “The driver hit a tree.”
Officer Dale said Fowler and one of his sons got out of the wrecked car and ran away. The officer said the boys are both in their early teens.
“The other one was standing at the vehicle, holding his arm,” Dale said, noting he gave chase and was able to catch Fowler. A check of the father’s license revealed why he had been running. His driving privileges were revoked.
Upon being caught by the policeman, Fowler claimed his neck was hurting from the accident. He was taken to Saint Thomas River Park Hospital where the officer said he was informed police would be contacted before Fowler was released from treatment.
Officer Dale noted he was not contacted and Fowler left the hospital. However, since officers knew his address, he was picked up later and served with his warrants. Neither father nor sons were critically injured.