PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — A man has been arrested after his vehicle crashed into a church playground while a toddler was inside, according to the Punta Gorda Police Department.
Police said 29-year-old Nathan Faust III drove to the Church of the Good Shepherd, located at 1800 Shreve Street, on the morning of April 2026 to drop off two children, ages 2 and 3.
Authorities said Faust exited the vehicle with the 3-year-old to take her into the school, leaving the 2-year-old inside the truck, restrained only by a seat belt. The vehicle then began moving forward on its own.
Investigators said the truck traveled about 25 yards, went through a ditch and a fence, and came to a stop inside the church playground area. No children were on the playground at the time of the crash.
Faust broke a window to remove the 2-year-old from the vehicle. The child was not injured.
Police said Faust then drove the truck out of the playground, returned the child to the daycare, and left the scene.
Officers later located Faust and took him into custody.
He has been 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.
The investigation remains ongoing.