A father’s decision to let his daughter and her friend ride an all-terrain vehicle ended in double tragedy, leading to criminal charges. Lance Alan Koeckeritz, 54, on Monday called the second-degree murder and child endangerment charges “mind-boggling,” three months after the crash that killed his daughter, Savanna, 10, and her friend, Alexis Gibson, 10.
The incident occurred on the family’s property near Afton, Minnesota, where Savanna was permitted to drive an all-terrain vehicle with an 800cc engine. Alexis was a passenger in the vehicle when it rolled over, trapping the two girls underneath. Both girls were pronounced dead at the scene, leading to an investigation that culminated in Koeckeritz’s arraignment Friday in Washington County District Court.
He is scheduled to appear in court on August 19. “We and the children have spent hundreds of hours on four-wheelers,” Koeckeritz said. The Star Tribune over the phone. “That’s how we all grew up… There was no lack of confidence in his abilities. He was making a left turn and a wheel got stuck in a hole. It was something unforeseen.”
Koeckeritz expressed shock at the charges, given that her family had “just lost our daughter and her friend.” She said, “It’s devastating. The fact that the county attorney is even contemplating filing charges is mind-boggling. Isn’t it enough that my other children lost our daughter due to a freak accident?”
Koeckeritz, who has a wife and six other children, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Photos on his social media before the tragedy show him enjoying life with his wife Jennifer and their three children. Some images show Savanna performing extreme stunts like kneeboarding and one of Koeckeritz’s sons in the driver’s seat of a stationary off-road vehicle.
The mother and father put up memorial signs for their lost daughter. describing her as “a sweet woman.” and a loving little girl who was adored by all who knew her.” She was remembered as someone who “always had a smile on her face, a hug to give and always wanted to cuddle up to watch a movie or read a book.”
“She loved life, enjoyed camping, ATVing, boating and kneeboarding,” the obituary continues. “She spent hours riding her bike, driving the golf cart with her brother and begging to go on motorcycle rides with her dad. Savanna was fearless. She would ride any amusement park ride, even the biggest roller coasters. She loved the thrill and the wind in her hair.”
The ATV involved in the crash had a much more powerful engine than recommended for children of Savanna’s age. In Minnesota, children can drive an ATV up to 110 cc on public land and frozen water, but even for these smaller engines, a guardian is required. The ATV Savanna was driving had an engine about eight times as powerful, with a top speed of about 100 mph, according to Twin Cities Pioneer Press.
First responders arrived to find Jennifer performing CPR on the two girls. Despite the efforts of deputies and emergency officials, the girls were pronounced dead at the scene. Koeckeritz admitted to investigators that her daughters were allowed to operate the ATV whenever they wanted, without adult supervision or permission. This practice is illegal according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which recommends a maximum engine size of 110cc for children ages 10 and 11.