PD: Man Got Drunk, Let Teen Drive

Pictured: Juan Rodriguez.

A Huntington Station man is facing child endangerment charges after he allegedly allowed his 13-year-old son to drive his car because he was drunk, according to Suffolk County police.

Juan Rodriguez, 34, put the underage driver behind the wheel shortly after 5 p.m. May 21, officials said.

What followed was a brush with disaster. According to police, the teen “barely missed” crashing into other cars on West 10th Street before police pulled him over. The boy was not wearing a seat belt, according to a criminal complaint.

Also at risk was Rodriguez, who police allege was seen standing up in the rear of the 2005 Ford Mustang convertible.

Rodriguez was charged with reckless endangerment and two counts of acting in a manner injurious to a child under age 17, along with a number of traffic law infractions.

Rodriguez was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court June 11, according to online court records.

-SCHRAFEL