A drunken Florida teen was arrested for fatally striking a two-year-old boy riding a tricycle as the child’s horrified parents screamed for him to stop.
Joshua Montero, 19, supposedly ran over and killed Asher Lepping while in a drunken state in the Oak Bend neighborhood on Labor Day. He was charged with DUI manslaughter.
According to an arrest report, the toddler was riding his blue bike with his sister in front of their home when a silver Toyota Tacoma sped down the road.
As the truck came barreling down, parents Krysten and Danny ‘began yelling at the vehicle to slow down’ but to no avail.
Joshua Montero, 19, was arrested after allegedly hit and killed a two-year-old boy riding a tricycle as his horrified parents screamed to stop
Asher Lepping, 2, was riding his blue tricycle with his sister in front of their home when a silver Toyota Tacoma sped down the road
After hitting the child, the truck ‘appeared to drag the child and bicycle’ a few feet before stopping, according to the report.
‘The truck struck the child and appeared to drag the child and bicycle a few feet before the truck came to rest based on the apparent blood marks in the roadway,’ police told FOX35, adding that the truck’s front tire ‘completely’ ran over the toddler.
Onlookers rushed over to give the boy CPR until emergency responders arrived at the scene and took him to Advent Health Waterman – where he succumbed to his injuries.
Responding officers later noted that the accused seemed to be under the influence of alcohol and his eyes were red and glassy.
As the truck came barreling down, parents Krysten and Danny ‘began yelling at the vehicle to slow down’ but to no avail.
Onlookers rushed over to give the boy CPR until emergency responders arrived at the scene and took him to Advent Health Waterman – where he succumbed to his injuries
In a Facebook post, the Tavares Police Department wrote: ‘Officers stood by with the driver of the truck where they observed the odor of alcohol emitting from his person.
‘Joshua Montero, 19, presented several indicators that he was possibly under the influence of alcohol. To dispel officers’ suspicions, Joshua willingly participated in field sobriety exercises and was deemed to be under the influence of alcohol, solidified later with a breathalyzer test.’
The accused was also only wearing a bathing suit with no shoes or shirt at the time of the crash.
Police said after the child died at the hospital, they informed Montero his charges would be updated to DUI manslaughter after being taken to jail.
A GoFundMe has since been started for the Lepping family by a neighbor
Police said after the child died at the hospital, they informed Montero his charges would be updated to DUI manslaughter after being taken to jail
Officials also said: ‘The Oak Bend neighborhood is a closed, gated community and an active, young neighborhood.
‘The street that this took place on was a short, dead-end street where families felt safe for their children to be able to play under their supervision. Prior to the accident, witnesses stated that the truck was traveling above the posted speed and in a careless manner within the neighborhood.
‘These reports will be followed up and investigated by investigators.’
A GoFundMe has since been started for the Lepping family by a neighbor. As of now, the crowdfunding page has raised $9,135 out of its $12,000 goal.
A court date for later this month has been set for Montero.
