Police: Drunk dad was in passenger seat as 10-year-old son drove

THE DALLES, Ore. -- Oregon State Police arrested a 34-year-old The Dalles man on drunk driving charges after they said he was in the front passenger seat steering the vehicle as his 10-year-old son sat in the driver's seat.

The incident happened at about 10:45 a.m. when police saw a 2004 GMC Envoy sport utility vehicle traveling on Klindt Drive in the west end of The Dalles. The trooper who pulled the SUV over said it was running with its hazard lights on as it weaved in and out of lanes and was stopping in the road.

The trooper could see the front passenger was steering the vehicle when he decided to pull the SUV over.

That's when the trooper found a 10-year-old boy in the driver's seat. His father, Jose Israel Torres, was in the passenger seat, police said.

The trooper also discovered an open container of alcohol at Torres' feet and several other empty containers in the back seat.

Police arrested Torres for DUII, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person. Torres was also cited for several traffic violations, including not having a valid driver's license.

He was taken to the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility.

KATU News contacted him in jail, but he declined an interview.

Prior to his arrest, Torres had called his wife to come pick up their son. When his wife arrived, police learned she also did not have a valid driver's license and ticketed her.

Torres' wife and son were eventually picked up by friends of the couple.