Yorktown, VA 23692
A 39-year-old man is facing felony charges after being accused of driving down Wolf Trap Road in a backhoe with children in the loader.
Bruno D. Antonio received a ticket Nov. 16 after deputies received a call from a citizen, who said Antonio was driving the piece of machinery on the road with several young children riding in the bucket, said Dep. Mike Russell of the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies found four children — who range in age from 7 to 11 — sitting in the loader with a toddler in the seat with the driver, Russell said.
Three of the children were Antonio’s, and two were friends of his children’s.
Because the children were not restrained in any way and because none of the lights or warning signals of the backhoe were illuminated, the deputy issued a summons for reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.
“The deputy believed that Mr. Antonio was operating a motor vehicle in a manner so as to endanger the lives of the children,” Russell said.
An additional charge of abuse and neglect of children was filed when the deputy met with York-Poquoson Commonwealth’s Attorney Benjamin Hahn on Jan. 9 to discuss the upcoming case.
Antonio was arrested on that charge Feb. 1.
