Chanton Jenkins, Struggling to Use Cellphone While Driving, Reportedly Fails Sobriety Tests After Car Slid into Swollen Ditch, Five Children Drowned

Driving under the influence of alcohol and struggling to use a cellular phone is a deadly combination by any stretch of the imagination. That's just what Chanton Jenkins has been accused of doing as he lost control of his car yesterday and slid into a ditch. The sad reality is that there are always victims that don't deserve the fate they are dealt. You see, five children drowned as the car slid into a rain-swollen ditch near Greens Bayou. Houston Police Department spokesperson Kese Smith said Jenkins is expected to be charged with at least one count of intoxication manslaughter.

Three of the children's bodies -- males ages four, seven and 11 years old -- have been recovered from the car, but the other two -- girls ages one and three -- are believed to have been swept away in the fast moving current. Jenkins is reportedly the father of four of the children. Houston Fire Department Assistant Chief Omero Longoria told reporters that rescue workers found the car in a drainage ditch filled with nine feet of water at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday, almost 100 feet from where the driver lost control more than two hours earlier at approximately 5 p.m.

The car, possibly a Lincoln Continental, was caught up in a flash flood as thunderstorms moved through Houston. It is believed some of the passengers, including at least two adult brothers and one child, were able to escape the vehicle before it fell in.

Police confirm that the driver did fail a field sobriety test after officers say they smelled the odor of alcohol on his breath. Cannon said his blood alcohol level would be verified to determine if he was intoxicated. The man who was the passenger told investigators that his brother was struggling to hold a cell phone when he allegedly lost control of the car. Source: My Fox Houston

We have to wait to see if the allegations of intoxication are true, but people have to realize that using a cellphone while driving, especially in inclement weather, can have disastrous results. I have seen too many people driving extremely slow because they are on the cellphone and cannot operate the vehicle normally, essentially holding up traffic. That's an accident waiting to happen. It is unfortunate that this man is being accused of reckless driving that resulted in the deaths of five children. That's a burden no-one in their right mind would want to bear. These children died senselessly and if he is in fact guilty of driving under the influence, he should be charged with the deaths of each child, not just one count of intoxication manslaughter. Sorry, drinking and driving and using a cellphone is a deadly combination.