A tragic accident in a gated Florida neighborhood claimed the life of 2-year-old Asher Lepping, who was struck and dragged by a truck driven by an allegedly intoxicated teenager on September 2. The child, riding his tricycle in the cul-de-sac, was hit by a silver Toyota Tacoma driven by 19-year-old Joshua Aidan Montero, according to authorities.
Krysten and Daniel Lepping, Asher’s parents, desperately shouted for Montero to slow down as he sped through the quiet street. However, the truck ultimately struck their son, dragging him several feet and leaving a trail of blood behind. A neighbor performed CPR on Asher, but the toddler was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Montero has been charged with felony DUI manslaughter and is currently held without bond in the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest affidavit, obtained by PEOPLE, describes the horrific Labor Day incident as a “careless and preventable act,” according to Detective Courtney Sullivan.
“Our agency is deeply saddened at the loss of this precious little boy,” Sullivan said. “We hope that justice prevails for the little boy’s family. Our hearts go to his family during this heartbreaking time.”
At the scene, Asher’s mother told police that she believed the truck’s front tire had completely run over her son. Tavares police officer C. Bannick, who was present at the scene, reported a strong odor of alcohol coming from Montero. The teenager, dressed only in swim trunks, allegedly admitted to speeding at the time of the collision and told the officer that he was “drunk but not drunk drunk” or “too drunk” to drive.
Montero provided two breath samples, registering blood alcohol levels of .062 and .057, which are both over the legal limit for someone under the age of 21. He initially claimed to have consumed 15 cans of Michelob Ultra, later reducing that number to three or four cans. He also admitted to recent recreational cocaine use but denied using it that day.
A GoFundMe page set up by a neighbor described Asher as a “precious little boy” whose life was tragically cut short. Annie Brown, the page’s organizer, expressed her grief: “All because a driver chose to show no respect for our quiet gated community and the precious children that live here.”
Montero’s arraignment is scheduled for September 30, where he faces serious charges related to the fatal accident.