Police: Drunk uncle let nephew, 8, steer moving car

UPPER DARBY, Pa. (WPVI) -- A Delaware County man is behind bars, accused of drinking and driving with his two young nephews in the car, and even allowing one of them to take the wheel.

Upper Darby Police say the drunk babysitter took it to the next level of stupidity when they found the man driving... sort of.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood says, "The guy is a total moron, it's the best way to describe him."

Chitwood says Saturday afternoon his officers spotted 58-year-old Clarence Hairston behind the wheel of his Chevy Impala in the intersection of Guilford and Copley Roads. The car was stopping and going.

Police followed the man to his house on nearby Littlecroft Road where they say they finally saw his 8-year-old nephew in his lap steering.

They say Hairston was working the pedals... a can of beer in hand.

Chitwood says Hairston's other nephew, a 9-year-old, didn't have a seatbelt on and was jumping around in the backseat.

"He puts them in harm's way, but then who else in the neighborhood? I mean, he almost hit a parked car. It's a highly residential area," Chitwood explained.

Officers say the uncle, who could barely stand and smelled of alcohol, refused to take a Breathalyzer.

People sitting on the porch of his house had no interest in speaking with Action News.

But police located the boys' horrified mother. She says she had no clue Hairston was drinking while watching her children.

Chitwood tells us, "Fortunately nobody got hurt, but I guess the kids are calling him - certainly the police are calling him - "uncle drunk," and they got a lot of show and tell to talk about this September."

Bail for Hairston was set at $15,000. We've learned this is his first DUI.