Drunk Dad Lets 8-Year-Old Drive, Say Police

And today's Parent of the Year Award goes to: Billy Joe Madden, who allegedly let his 8-year-old drive during a family trip from Mississippi to Texas ... while dear old dad was passed out drunk in the passenger seat. State police arrested Madden after receiving an early morning call yesterday from another motorist who said Madden's truck was driving erratically ... and apparently had a kid piloting it.

Cops pulled the truck over on the Louisiana interstate around 6:30am, and found the 8-year-old in the driver's seat with his father next to him and his 4-year-old sister in the rear. Madden was charged with quite a few counts: child desertion, parent allowing a minor to drive, no child restraint, no seatbelt, and open container. Both children were put into the care of Child Protective Services, WWLTV reports. (More parent stories.)