A Florida teenager allegedly ran over a 2-year-old child and killed him while driving drunk. The horrific incident occurred in the Oak Bend subdivision, a gated community in Tavares, Florida. Kyrsten and Daniel Lepping reportedly watched their young son, Asher, as he was run over while riding his tricycle. His mother screamed for the driver to stop, but it was too late.
Tavares police arrived and immediately questioned the driver, Joshua Aiden Montero, 19. According to police, he smelled of alcohol and submitted to a field sobriety test. A breathalyzer confirmed police suspicions as he blew over the legal limit. Montero was arrested and charged with felony manslaughter while driving under the influence.
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The family watched in horror.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Tavares Police Department noted that Montero was driving a "bulldogged" truck through the subdivision just after 7 p.m. September 2.
Kyrsten Lepping yelled at the teen to "slow down," according to an arrest record obtained by People. It appears Montero didn't heed her warning, however, because he plowed into Asher, dragging him several feet and leaving a trail of "blood marks."
Neighbors tried to help.
While the family waited for emergency crews, neighbors attempted to administer life-saving measures to Asher. Paramedics arrived and began emergency medical care in hopes of saving the child. Asher was taken to Advent Health Waterman, where he was pronounced dead, police reported in the Facebook post.
The driver allegedly reeked of alcohol.
While EMS tried to save Asher’s life, police stood close to Montero, who apparently smelled like alcohol, police reported. He agreed to a field sobriety test, and officers deemed him to be under the influence of alcohol. According to People, Montero submitted to a breathalyzer and twice blew over the legal limit of 0.08.
Montero appeared heavily intoxicated.
At the time of his arrest, he was two years shy of the legal drinking age of 21. Per the arrest record, he told police he'd had 15 Michelob Ultra but then changed his mind and said three or four cans over four hours eariler in the day, according to Tavares police officer C. Bannick. Montero was reportedly not wearing a shirt and admitted he was speeding when he hit the child. He allegedly told the officer he was not "drunk drunk" or "too drunk" to drive.
Per online court records, he was taken to the Lake County Sheriff's Office and was being held without bond. He does not have an attorney.
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Asher's family is heartbroken.
According to a GoFundMe account, friends and family want to help ease Asher’s family’s financial burden. Creator Annie Brown wrote that she cannot take the pain away but wants to help in any way she can.
"Please be in DEDICATED prayer for her, her husband, and her little girl who is already missing her brother. If you cannot donate monetarily, please donate your prayers of love and comfort!" she wrote on the page.
The fundraiser has nearly reached its $50,000 goal.
