Drunk teen kills toddler on a tricycle in road rampage in front of screaming parents
A drunken Florida teen has been arrested after fatally hitting a two-year-old boy riding a tricycle, as the child’s parents screamed at him to stop.
Joshua Montero, 19, allegedly ran over and killed Asher Lepping while he was drunk in the Oak Bend neighborhood on Labor Day. He was charged with manslaughter while intoxicated.
According to the arrest report, the toddler was riding his blue bicycle with his sister in front of their home when a silver Toyota Tacoma sped across the road.
As the truck approached, parents Krysten and Danny began “yelling at the vehicle to slow down,” but to no avail.
Joshua Montero, 19, was arrested after allegedly hitting and killing a two-year-old boy on a tricycle as his horrified parents screamed for him to stop
Asher Lepping, 2, was riding his blue tricycle in front of their home with his sister when a silver Toyota Tacoma sped across the road
After the child was hit, the truck appeared to drag the child and the bicycle for several feet before coming to a stop, the report said.
“The truck struck the child and appeared to drag the child and the bicycle for several feet before the truck came to a stop, based on visible blood trails on the road,” police said. VOS35and added that the truck’s front tire “completely” ran over the toddler.
Bystanders rushed to resuscitate the boy until emergency services arrived on the scene and took him to Advent Health Waterman, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Responding officers noted that the suspect appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and that his eyes were red and glazed.
As the truck approached, parents Krysten and Danny began “yelling at the vehicle to slow down,” but to no avail.
Bystanders rushed to resuscitate the boy until emergency services arrived on the scene and took him to Advent Health Waterman, where he succumbed to his injuries.
In a Facebook post, Tavares police said wrote: ‘Officers were standing near the driver of the truck and saw that he smelled an odor of alcohol coming from his body.
“Joshua Montero, 19, displayed several indicators that he may have been under the influence of alcohol. In order to allay officers’ suspicions, Joshua voluntarily participated in field sobriety exercises and was deemed to be under the influence of alcohol, which was later confirmed by a breathalyzer test.”
The suspect was wearing only a swimsuit at the time of the crash, with no shoes or shirt.
Police told Montero that after the child died in the hospital, the charge would be amended to manslaughter by drunken driving once he goes to jail.
A neighbor has now started a GoFundMe for the Lepping family
Police said after the child died at the hospital, they informed Montero that his charge would be amended to DUI manslaughter after he was taken to jail
Officials also said, “The Oak Bend neighborhood is a gated, gated community and an active, young neighborhood.
‘The street where this happened was a short, dead-end street where families felt safe for their children to play under their supervision. Before the accident, witnesses stated that the truck was traveling faster than the posted speed limit and was careless in the neighborhood.
“These reports are being investigated by detectives.”
A GoFundMe has now been started for the Lepping family by a neighbor. As of now, crowdfunding is page raised $9,135 of the $12,000 goal.
A trial against Montero is scheduled for later this month.