Teen Drives Over Toddler on Trike While Parents Watch in Horror, Police Say

A tragic incident occurred on Labor Day when a two-year-old boy was struck and killed by a teenage driver suspected of being under the influence. The young boy was riding his tricycle outside his home in Tavares, Florida, when the accident happened.

The child’s parents were present, watching their children play in the cul-de-sac around 7:15 PM. According to an arrest affidavit reviewed by local news, the parents noticed a Toyota Tacoma approaching at a high speed.

In a desperate attempt to alert the driver, the parents yelled for the truck to slow down. Their worst fears were realized when they witnessed their toddler being hit by the vehicle, authorities reported.

The impact caused the truck’s front tire to run over the child, dragging him and his tricycle a few feet before it finally came to a stop in the road. Neighbors rushed to the scene and began administering CPR until emergency responders arrived.

The little boy was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Joshua Montero, a 19-year-old male, has been arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with this tragic event. Police officers who arrived at the scene noted a strong smell of alcohol emanating from Montero, and he appeared to have bloodshot, glassy eyes.

He was taken into custody and brought to the Lake County Jail, where officials reported that he failed a sobriety test. Notably, Montero is below the legal drinking age, and his breath test registered at .062 percent and .057 percent. Although these readings are below the legal limit of .08 percent, the affidavit indicated that several hours had passed between the time of the collision and the testing.

Currently, Montero is held without bond at the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) had anticipated an increase in impaired driving incidents during the Labor Day weekend. In a recent press release, the organization highlighted a worrying trend, stating that driving fatalities have surged by 33 percent since 2019.

The Tavares Police Department is continuing its investigation into this heartbreaking case, and The Independent has reached out for further details.