Bay area man faces child neglect charges after 11-year-old girl crashes his SUV into a church fence

Man told deputies he was teaching girl to drive

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A man with a suspended license is accused of letting an 11-year-old girl drive a SUV that crashed into a church fence in Brandon, Florida, on July 20, 2011.
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Posted: 07/20/2011

By: Don Germaise

BRANDON, Fla. - A man with a suspended license, who had been drinking, let an 11-year-old girl drive a SUV that crashed into a church fence in Brandon, Hillsborough deputies said.

The SUV demolished a fenced-in water pipe, sending a 50-foot geyser into the air and knocking out water to the First Baptist Church of Brandon.

Deputies say Donald Leet told them he was teaching the 11-year-old how to drive. A seven-year-old girl was also in the SUV. Deputies say all three suffered minor injuries. Damage to the SUV, fence and water pipe topped $10,000, according to deputies.

"He admitted he was drinking. He admitted he had a suspended license. He admitted he let the 11-year-old girl drive," said sheriff's deputy Larry McKinnon.

Leet was charged with two counts of child neglect. Deputies would not say how Leet was related to the two young girls.

"He (Leet) was drinking," said McKinnon. "But we couldn't charge him with DUI. The little girl was driving."