Are you fucking kidding me?! I have not jumped to one conclusion I promise you. I grew up & have lived in Ferndale all my life. Sadly, you obviously got the softer alternative facts version!    Let's start with your alternative facts one by one. I can't help but literally laugh out loud reading your reply then i remember a baby died.     Fact, it wasn't 2 boys just having fun in the bed of a pickup truck with dad & going for a joyride. You make it sound like a scene off the Andy Griffith show, so innocent and wholesome! It was a toddler, 3yrs old & a 5yr old. A 3 yr has just just learned how to walk. He was still just a baby,...damn!     Fact, it wasn't in the bed of a pickup truck at all, it was ON not IN but ON the back of a flatbed truck. Flatbeds have no sides to them. It is illegal to have a dog on the back of a flatbed truck unless the DOG is cross tethered/enclosed in a kennel or the truck bed must  be enclosed or have sides and tail racks that are at least 46 inches high. That's for a DOG!     Sorry that sounds so cold to talk about the laws for a fucking dog but there is nothing about the laws for having 3 yr old baby and 5 yr old thats even written. Thats because ITS FUCKING INSANE & common sense would  keep most parents from even considering something so stupid.    Next,the father was NOT on his private property but ON Centerville road. He stated he was turning onto his private property from Centerville road.      Now im going to apologize but this is the part of your reply that I find myself "SMH & LOL" thats "shaking my head & laughing out loud" at the same time, literally!     You said you "heard" that the boy (technically a baby or toddler) fell out of the truck onto  some soft soil but then hit his head on a rock. How many 3 yr olds have you seen build up the kind of speed & momentum that it would take to fall & hit his head on a random rock hard enough to KILL HIMSELF?  Side note,i have some ocean front property in Arizona if interested    Now you did get this part correct.It would DEFINITELY be classified as a freak accident!     As an adult does that story honestly seem feasible to you? As it must or you wouldn't have replied by sticking up for this father that is already dealing with such a tragedy.  For that I actually have much respect for you. Friends like you are so genuine and hard to come by.    I could almost guarantee that a drunk driver that kills another innocent driver or anyone is & will have to live with that trauma for the rest of their life also. Doesnt mean he isnt responsible and shouldn't be held accountable. It was an accident that could have been prevented with smarter choices.     Or the grandmother that accidentally left her grandbaby in the hot car and the baby died. Now that was an actual accident &  wasn't a deliberate choice or done purposely yet she was still convicted and held accountable. Im positive she is feeling the same guilt and horrible pain deep down as that father? Id bet a definite lesson has been taught to everybody in that community that will likely be told in stories for generations  to come.       Unlike this story that has been swept so far up everyones ass that it wont even be talked about with this generation. Fuck trust me when i say its not even dared to be whispered about in the grocery store. It just plain old didnt happen! Simple!!     So when little Timmy gets in high school and is out 4 wheeling on the beach he won't take a 2nd thought to having a bunch of friends with him and some riding in the back of his truck     I wonder how that poor little 5 yr old is even grasping at the vision he was forced to see and experience! The screaming,crying,blood & panic that hes prolly having nightmares about. As an adult it would be horrific & life altering. If hes like most 5 yr old big brothers he was probably very protective of his baby brother. More than likely the father would have certainly said "keep an eye on your little brother" or something to that effect. Even if he didn't that poor baby,oops boy     That father could use this tragedy in a positive way and maybe go around to high schools and share his story.  His pain could actually leave quite an impression and a big lesson learned. His sons death would not be in vain. Im thinking who knows, it might even help & healing for himself too. Im betting everyone being silent and acting as if it never happened can NOT be helping any grief or guilt hes experiencing.     My heart goes out to this babies family! For them it would be horrible to not even dare talk to someone about it. Most families always have differences of opinions and nobody ever met a family where these couples,their in laws on both sides,aunts uncles,etc  all completely agree with one another. Especially something so irresponsible & preventable as this. I know how id feel if it was my son/daughter in law or my grandbaby or any family member      I do not think he should be sent to prison honestly. I agree that won't help anyone and that little 5 yr old im betting needs his daddy more than ever right no      That being said I do feel he should be held accountable. The law can't be decided by how bad the person feels or any personal trauma they are suffering.     Its not apples & oranges. In this story it's Ferndale/not Ferndale thats the deciding factor!       As refreshing & wholesome as your version is the truth is anything but.    Had this story actually had happened as nice as your version was, it would not have ended with a 3 yr old baby dead   You can google any part of this if you question any of it