Man Held In Crash That Hurt Child Driver Was Allegedly Drunk In Roll-Over With 10-Year-Old

A Smelterville man has been charged with injuring a child during a roll-over accident last month.

James L. Green allegedly was driving drunk when his car rolled Feb. 7 on Interstate 90 near Kellogg. The 10-year-old boy riding with him was thrown from the car and seriously injured, said Idaho State Police Cpl. Rick Field.

ISP officers arrested Green Tuesday on a warrant charging him with felony injury to a child and driving with a suspended license. He is being held in the Shoshone County Jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

Green is being charged under a law enacted last year that makes it a crime to transport a child in a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The crime becomes a felony if the child is injured or dies.

The boy, who was not wearing a seat belt, received several injuries. He was recently released from the hospital. His relationship to Green was not reported.

Field said the boy’s injuries likely would have been minor if he was wearing a seat belt. Green was not injured in the crash.

“The driver of a vehicle is legally responsible for all passengers in their car being safely seated and properly restrained,” Field said.

“It is especially imperative that drivers see to the safety of the children who ride in their cars.”

Blood samples were sent to a lab in Minnesota. Green faces 10 year in prison if convicted.

, DataTimes