LAKELAND, Fla. — A Florida man accused of driving under the influence fled a rollover crash with two young children and carried them into dark, swampy terrain before a police drone tracked their location, according to Lakeland Police.
Dramatic footage shows a Florida DUI suspect carrying his two young children into a gator-infested swamp while trying to escape the police.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 14, 2026
Officers launched a drone to track the man after he crashed his vehicle and fled the scene, leaving behind two empty child car seats.… pic.twitter.com/c81ZnShXdU
The September 9 incident involved 27-year-old Isaac Kinsey, a 2-year-old child and a 10-month-old infant. Police said Kinsey repeatedly fell while moving through standing water with the children before officers reached them. Both children were taken to a hospital and later released.
Empty child seats trigger urgent search after 4 a.m. crash
The incident began at about 4 a.m. near Highway 33 and North Combee Road in Lakeland.
Investigators said Kinsey drove through a road-closure sign and sandbags before entering a construction zone. His vehicle rolled over and eventually came to rest against exposed tree roots.
Kinsey and the children were gone when officers reached the wreck. Inside, police found two empty child safety seats — a discovery that transformed the crash investigation into an urgent search for potentially injured children.
Officers began checking the surrounding wooded and marshy terrain while a police drone searched from above.
Drone finds Kinsey carrying children through swamp
About 30 minutes later, the drone operator located Kinsey south of the crash site, police said.
Authorities said he was carrying the two children through swampy terrain and repeatedly struggled to keep his footing. During some falls, police said the children became submerged in the water, creating a potentially life-threatening situation.
Investigators said Kinsey eventually put down the 2-year-old and continued farther into the marsh carrying the 10-month-old infant.
The drone allowed police to keep track of his position while officers made their way through the difficult terrain.
Officers wade into water to rescue baby and toddler
Officers eventually reached Kinsey and took the children to safety. Both were transported to Lakeland Regional Health for medical evaluation and treatment before being released, according to police.
Kinsey also received medical treatment before being taken into custody.
Lakeland Police Chief Sammy Taylor said the incident could have ended far more seriously. The combination of darkness, water, difficult terrain and repeated falls made quickly locating the children critical.
Official information about local investigations and public-safety services is available through the Lakeland Police Department.
Great North Run Tragedy: Two Runners, Both 25, Die After the Race
Australian Dad and Two Young Children Found Dead in Bali as Police Investigate
Police say Kinsey admitted he had been drinking
Investigators said Kinsey showed signs of impairment after officers reached him. Police said he admitted being intoxicated and acknowledged that his driver’s license was suspended.
Authorities said Kinsey now faces 11 charges — eight misdemeanors and three felonies. They include two felony counts of negligent child abuse with great bodily harm.
Reported allegations also involve DUI, DUI with a passenger under 18, driving with a suspended or revoked license and offenses connected to leaving the crash scene.
All charges are allegations. Kinsey is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court, and prosecutors may alter the charges as the case proceeds.
Drone technology helps officers locate children in darkness
The drone became a crucial part of the response because officers were searching before sunrise across wooded wetlands where visibility from the ground was limited.
Instead of relying entirely on officers searching through water and vegetation, the aerial view helped locate Kinsey and allowed police to follow his movements while ground teams approached.
Florida authorities have recently faced several complex emergency operations. In Miami, a Brickell crane collapse prompted a major emergency response, while another Florida investigation followed a serious crash that developed into court proceedings.
Police have not confirmed an alligator encounter
Some online accounts have described the location as a “gator-infested swamp.” While Florida wetlands are alligator habitat, police-based information does not establish that Kinsey, the children or responding officers encountered an alligator during the search.
Likewise, some posts describe Kinsey as the children’s father. Available police-based reporting has not publicly established his precise relationship to them, so that description should not be treated as confirmed.
The confirmed outcome is that both children were located, removed from the marsh and released from hospital. The criminal case is expected to provide further detail about the crash and the events leading to Kinsey’s arrest.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
