A drunk Florida teenager has been arrested for fatally running over a two-year-old boy riding a tricycle as the boy’s horrified parents screamed at him to stop.
Joshua Montero, 19, allegedly hit and killed Asher Lepping while intoxicated in the Oak Bend neighborhood on Labor Day. He was charged with DUI homicide.
According to the arrest report, the boy was riding his blue bicycle with his sister in front of their home when a silver Toyota Tacoma sped down the road.
As the truck sped toward them, parents Krysten and Danny “began yelling at the vehicle to slow down,” but to no avail.
Joshua Montero, 19, was arrested after allegedly running over and killing a two-year-old boy riding a tricycle as his horrified parents screamed for him to stop.
Asher Lepping, 2, was riding his blue tricycle with his sister in front of their house when a silver Toyota Tacoma sped across the road.
After hitting the boy, the truck “appeared to drag the boy 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 a few feet before the truck came to a stop based on apparent blood marks on the road,” police said. FOX35He added that the front tire of the truck “completely ran over” the child.
Bystanders rushed to perform CPR on the boy until emergency services arrived on the scene and took him to Advent Health Waterman, where he died from his injuries.
Responding officers later noticed that the defendant appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and that his eyes were red and glassy.
As the truck sped toward them, parents Krysten and Danny “began yelling at the vehicle to slow down,” but to no avail.
Bystanders rushed to perform CPR on the boy until emergency services arrived on scene and took him to Advent Health Waterman, where he succumbed to his injuries.
In a Facebook post, the Tavares Police Department wrote:The officers stood next to the truck driver and observed that he smelled of alcohol.
‘Joshua Montero, 19, exhibited several signs that he may have been under the influence of alcohol. To allay officers’ suspicions, Joshua voluntarily participated in field sobriety exercises and was determined to be under the influence of alcohol, which was later confirmed by a breathalyzer test.’
The defendant was also wearing only a bathing suit and no shoes or shirt at the time of the accident.
Police said that after the boy died at the hospital, Montero was informed that his charges would be upgraded to DUI manslaughter after he was taken to jail.
A neighbor has since started a GoFundMe campaign for the Lepping family.
Police said that after the boy died at the hospital, Montero was informed that his charges would be upgraded to DUI manslaughter after he was taken to jail.
Officials also said: ‘The Oak Bend neighborhood is a gated, closed community and a young, active neighborhood.
‘The street where the accident occurred was a short, dead-end street where families felt safe so their children could play under their supervision. Before the accident, witnesses said the truck was traveling above the posted speed limit and in a careless manner within the neighborhood.
‘These reports will be subject to follow-up and investigation by investigators.’
A neighbor has since started a GoFundMe campaign for the Lepping family. So far, the crowdfunding has been successful. page Has raised $9,135 of its $12,000 goal.
A hearing date has been set for Montero later this month.
