Norfolk, Va. — Gary Anthony Sanders II, 37, pleaded guilty Thursday to driving while intoxicated and two counts of felony child abuse after a crash last year left his two children with serious injuries.
On the night of Nov. 24, 2023, Sanders, who had been drinking, was driving with his two young children on Cromwell Road when he lost control, slammed into a median, and hit a tree head-on. The crash was severe enough to push the engine block into the front seat. His older child, improperly secured in a booster seat, hit the back of the front passenger seat, while his younger child in a car seat was knocked unconscious and stopped breathing at one point.
A passerby heard the screams and rescued both children before Norfolk Police arrived. The older child lost teeth and suffered a broken femur, while the younger one had spine and arm fractures, lung bruising, and had to be intubated. Thankfully, both children have since recovered.
Police found multiple open containers of alcohol in the car, and Sanders’ blood alcohol level was later determined to be at least twice the legal limit. He was unable to perform sobriety tests at the scene due to his own injuries, which included a broken knee.
As part of a plea deal, Sanders will face sentencing on Jan. 17, with the Commonwealth agreeing to seek a sentence in line with state guidelines. Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi emphasized the gravity of Sanders’ actions, saying, “Drunk driving is absolutely preventable, but Mr. Sanders chose to do it, and his children paid the price.”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney George M. Afentakis is handling the case, with Norfolk Police Officer Ryan E. Martin leading the investigation.