Car Crash Caused By Drunk Dad On Father's Day Leaves 6-Year-Old Unable To Walk

A Kansas man, who crashed his car recently leaving his 6-year-old daughter unable to walk, faces a slew of charges, including driving under the influence (DUI) and aggravated battery.

Jimmy Dean Landis, 36, was driving the car on Burlingame Road in Topeka on Sunday evening when the vehicle went off the road and rammed into a tree, severely injuring both his children, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.

The girl, Zoey Landis, suffered serious injuries in the crash, while her 5-year-old brother Zackory escaped with minor injuries. He left Topeka's Stormont Vail Health Tuesday.

The two children live with their mother, Shawna Bledsoe, but were with their father Sunday on account of Father's Day.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said Landis has also been charged with endangering a child, interference with law enforcement, attempted battery against a law enforcement officer, and a child restraint violation, the report said.

According to the children's mother Bledsoe, Zoey's spinal cord was stretched at the top and middle with ligaments broken in both places after the crash. She underwent surgery Tuesday at Children’s Mercy Hospital to place rods and a plate at the base of her skull.

"Luckily, she has maintained upper body movement, but without a miracle of some kind, she won’t walk again," Bledsoe was quoted as saying by KFVS 12.

Police who arrived at the accident spot said they had to restrain Landis due to his erratic behavior. The kids were in the backseat of the car. Though they were wearing seatbelts, they weren't in proper booster seats, according to officials.

The family created a GoFundMe page Wednesday seeking to raise $25,000 to help cover medical expenses for Zoey and Zackory Landis.

According to reports, Shawnee County District Court records show that Landis had four past convictions for DUI – one in 2011, two in 2017, and the recent one was in 2018. In each case, judges put him on probation.

Shawnee County Jail records indicate that Landis was being held Thursday on a $100,000 bond. His next court date is set for October 6.

In a similar case, a drunken Georgia mother was arrested last month after she crashed the car with her child inside. Residents of Clayton County, who heard a loud bang, ventured out to find the child bleeding and wandering the streets. Officers who arrived at the location found that the mother was heavily drunk.