A 44-year-old man from Kentucky faces charges after his son drowned when their car overturned in a flooded creek. The incident occurred on June 27 near Elizabethtown. Authorities say the father had been drinking before the crash.
David Rhodes is charged with vehicular homicide, assault and driving under the influence in the death of his 15-year-old son, Ethan Rhodes. The crash happened just before 9 p.m. on Bewley Hollow Road in Elizabethtown, about 45 miles south of Louisville.
Rhodes lost control of his Ford Mustang, which left the road and overturned in a flooded creek. Emergency crews rescued Rhodes, Ethan and another juvenile. Ethan died at the hospital, while the other juvenile suffered head trauma.
Rhodes told police they had been at a bowling alley where he drank several beers. He said his son asked for help as water filled the car, and he replied that he did not know what to do because he was drowning too. His blood alcohol level measured 0.141, nearly twice the legal limit.
Rhodes remains in the Hardin County Jail on a $250,000 bond.