Teen Driver Allegedly Strikes, Kills Child With Car

A 19-year-old alleged drunk driver is accused of striking and killing a 2-year-old boy who was riding a tricycle in a Florida neighborhood, leaving a community in shock and a family devastated.

At a Glance

Joshua Montero, 19, was arrested for DUI manslaughter after hitting a 2-year-old boy on a tricycle.
Incident occurred in a gated Tavares neighborhood, where the child’s parents witnessed the tragedy.
Montero was reportedly speeding and showed signs of alcohol impairment at the scene.
The toddler was dragged by the truck and died at the hospital.
The community has rallied around the grieving family, raising funds through a GoFundMe page.

Tragic Incident Unfolds in Quiet Neighborhood

On a quiet evening in the Oak Bend subdivision of Tavares, Florida, a heartbreaking tragedy unfolded that has left a community reeling. Around 7:15 p.m., a silver Toyota Tacoma driven by 19-year-old Joshua Montero allegedly struck and killed a 2-year-old boy who was innocently riding his tricycle. The incident, which occurred in a gated neighborhood on a short, dead-end street, has shocked residents who believed their children were safe playing outside.

Witnesses, including the child’s parents, reported that Montero’s truck was speeding as it entered the street. Detective Courtney Sullivan of the Tavares Police Department stated, “They observed the truck turn onto their dead end street, which is a very short street, and begin to speed up where they all started to yell to slow down. At that point, that is when the truck struck this innocent child.”

Tragedy Strikes: 2-Year-Old Killed By Allegedly Drunk Florida Teen Driver In Gated Communityhttps://t.co/bORNCQNoO3

— Tampa Free Press (@tampafreepress) September 4, 2024

Signs of Impairment and Arrest

When police arrived at the scene, they found Montero exhibiting clear signs of alcohol impairment. He was reportedly wearing only swim trunks and had bloodshot, glassy eyes. The police noted a strong odor of alcohol coming from Montero. Initially reluctant, he eventually agreed to field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for DUI.

“Unfortunately, we lost an innocent soul, and a family is just grieving the loss of a child that has so much more life to live,” said Sullivan.

Breath samples taken at the jail showed alcohol levels of .062 and .057, which are above the legal limit for someone under 21 years old. Police believe Montero’s alcohol level was likely higher at the time of the crash. His alleged behavior at the scene further indicated his impaired state, with Detective Sullivan noting, “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.”

Community Response and Ongoing Investigation

The local community has rallied around the grieving family, with neighbors like Annie Brown helping to raise funds through a GoFundMe page. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Central Florida has also expressed condolences and offered support services to those affected by this tragedy.

“Our hearts are saddened at the loss of this innocent boy’s life in something that was easily preventable,” police said.

Montero is currently being held without bond, facing charges of DUI manslaughter. A court date has been set for later this month. As the investigation continues, this heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of drunk driving, especially in residential areas where children should be safe to play.