Drunk daddy sleeps while 8-year-old son drives pickup truck (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

So while daddy BILLY JOE MADDEN was sleeping off his drunk binge--he thoughtfully handed over the truck keys to his 8-year-old son--where was Mama? Erased from the picture she is, with the kids now in the custody of Louisiana CPS. Why? Is there a mom?

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT.

http://www.wivb.com/dpps/news/offbeat/la-troopers-say-dad-sleeps-while-8-year-old-drives-ob11-jgr_3900880

Police: Dad sleeps while child drives
Alarmed motorists called authorities
Updated: Tuesday, 02 Aug 2011, 8:23 AM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 02 Aug 2011, 8:23 AM EDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana state police say an 8-year-old boy was driving a pickup truck down an interstate while his drunken father slept in the passenger seat.

Troopers say the man's 4-year-old daughter was in the back seat when the truck was stopped Saturday morning in Livingston Parish. The child's driving was so erratic that it alarmed motorists, who called authorities.

The children have been handed over to Louisiana Child Protective Services.

The father, 28-year-old Billy Joe Madden of Hattiesburg, Miss., was booked into the Livingston Parish Jail on charges including Child Desertion and Allowing a Minor to Drive. It was not clear Saturday afternoon if he had an attorney.