Vehicle with toddler inside plows into playground at Punta Gorda church

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WINK) — A Punta Gorda man was arrested after his vehicle crashed into a playground at the Church of the Good Shepherd at 1800 Shreve Street this morning, according to the Punta Gorda Police Department.

Nathan Faust III, 29, arrived at the school to drop off two children, ages 2 and 3. Police said Faust got out of the truck with the 3-year-old child to take her into the school, leaving the 2-year-old in the vehicle, restrained only by a seat belt.

The vehicle began moving forward and traveled approximately 25 yards. It went through a ditch and a fence before ending up in the church playground area.

No children were on the playground at the time of the crash. Faust broke out a window in the vehicle and got the 2-year-old child out of the truck.

The 2-year-old child was uninjured during the crash. Faust then drove the truck out of the playground, returned the 2-year-old to the day care and left the scene of the crash, police said.

Faust was located shortly after the incident and charged with Neglect of a Child without Great Bodily Harm and Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Property Damage. He was transported to the Charlotte County Jail, where he was incarcerated.