10-Year Old Describes Dangerous Driving Lesson

"I just asked, 'When are going to teach me how to drive?' He told me to get in the car."

The words of 10-year old Derrell Outler on Wednesday, standing with his mother in the doorway of their West Palm Beach apartment. The night before, Derrell survived a wild, destructive ride in the SUV of his mother's ex-boyfriend, 27-year old Derric Johnson.

"He's actually the only father my son knows," explained Derrell's mother LaMarsha Turner. She says she still lets Johnson visit her son. That's what Johnson was doing when Turner's 5th grade son, who's legally blind, asked for the driving lesson.

"Well I was actually like sitting along side of him," recounted Derrell. "Then I stood up. He told me to sit down. Then he took control. The sun must have got in his eyes."

Witnesses tell police the SUV made two circles around the parking lot of the Lake Shore Apartments on Congress Avenue. West Palm Beach Police say the SUV hit four cars, a man, and almost hit a child. The man who was hit, was not seriously hurt. Officers say Johnson took off, but a short time later, they tracked him down and arrested him.

Turner, Derrell's mother, who was in class at school when it happened, said she got phone calls telling her to come home. "I was hysterical," said Turner. "I was worried about my son, trying to figure out what's going on. So when I got here, it was a big relief that he was okay."

Both Turner and her son said they feel bad about what happened to the cars and the people. "After I saw all the damage, I started crying," said Derrell.

What do Derrell and his mother think about Johnson? "It was wrong" what he did, replied Turner. "But I don't have any animosity toward him. It was an accident. Things happen. He is a good father. He would never hurt my child."

Derric Johnson appeared before a judge Wednesday morning, charged with child neglect, leaving a crash scene, and driving with a suspended license.  He's expected to be released from jail, on his own recognizance.