A Paducah man is facing charges after police say he was giving horseback rides while intoxicated, which allegedly led to the injury of a small child.
According to Kentucky State Police, troopers responded about 9 p.m. Friday to Baptist Health in Paducah, after personnel called to report an injured child. The child, 5, suffered significant but not life-threatening injuries when he was thrown from a horse at Ken Bar Inn in Gilbertsville. According to KSP, Keith R. Gorham, 54, of Paducah, had been giving horseback rides to three children — ages 5, 2 and 2 — while intoxicated. During one ride, the 5-year-old boy was thrown from the horse and taken to Baptist Health, via Marshall County EMS.
The child was later flown to Vanderbilt University Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., for treatment of those injuries. His condition was unknown as of 8 a.m. Monday.
Gorham was arrested and charged with non-motor vehicle DUI, second-degree assault and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. He was housed in the Marshall County Detention Center.