Joshua Montero DUI driver hits and kills 2 year old Tavares, Florida boy, Asher Lepping riding his tricycle in front yard as drunk driver sped down street.
A suspected teen drunk driver in Florida is alleged to have struck and killed a 2 year old boy riding his tricycle as the toddler’s horrified parents screamed for the DUI driver to stop.
Joshua Montero, 19, is accused of having run over and killed two year old toddler, Asher Lepping while under the influence in the Tavares neighborhood on Labor Day. Upon his arrest, Montero was charged with DUI manslaughter.
According to an arrest report, the boy was riding his blue bike with his sister in front of their home when a silver Toyota Tacoma came speeding down the road.
As the pick up truck came barreling down, parents Krysten and Danny ‘began yelling at the vehicle to slow down’ but to no avail according to WESH.
After hitting the child, the truck ‘appeared to drag the child and bicycle’ a few feet before stopping, according to the arrest 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 along with the vehicle’s back wheel.
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 along with his eyes being red and glassy.
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.’
Police said Montero blew over the legal limit for someone under 21. Because hours had passed, they believed his alcohol level was higher when he hit the little boy.
Det. Courtney Sullivan with the Tavares Police Department said other signs pointed to impairment as well, including Montero’s emotions and priorities, which were referred to as ‘scattered.’
‘He’s worried about whether or not he can get his phone from his vehicle, or he could take things from his vehicle versus the fact that they’re doing CPR on a child,’ Sullivan said.
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.
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.
A court date for later this month has been set for Montero.
