Father who got his eight-year-old to drive as he slept off bender in the backseat

A designated driver is usually the only way to go if you've had too much to drink - unless he's eight years old.

But authorities said that’s exactly what they found when they pulled over a pick-up truck on a Louisiana interstate on Saturday moing.

State troopers were called when a passing motorist noticed the Chevrolet truck driving erratically on Interstate 12 near the town of Holden.

In the driver's seat was an 8-year-old boy, with his father, 28-year-old Billy Joe Madden, in the passenger seat.

While interviewing Mr Madden, troopers leaed he was drunk, and had been sleeping while the child drove from Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Mr. Madden’s 4-year-old daughter was also in the car, and sitting in the back seat, according to troopers.

Trouble on the interstate: The 8-year-old son of Billy Joe Madden was driving erratically on Interstate 12 when a conceed motorist called state troopers

Authorities said the family was on their way to Dallas, Texas.

Madden was arrested on two counts of child desertion, allowing a minor to drive, open container and two counts of no child restraint and no seatbelt.

Sheriff's deputy Dustin Sanders said Mr Madden was booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center in lieu of $1,474 bail.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Mr Madden had an attoey.

Both of the children were tued over to Louisiana Child Protective Services and were awaiting a relative who could take custody of them.

Neither child was injured in the two-state ride.