2-year-old hit, killed while riding tricycle in Tavares, teen arrested

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A 19-year-old was arrested Monday night after police say he hit and killed a 2-year-old boy riding a tricycle. “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 Det. Courtney Sullivan with the Tavares Police Department.Officers with the Tavares Police Department responded to a call around 7:15 p.m. in the Oak Bend subdivision.Joshua Montero is facing DUI manslaughter charges, police said. An arrest report states Montero was speeding in his truck when the crash happened. The child’s parents told police they were in the driveway while their kids were riding bikes in front of the home. According to a report, they saw Montero drive down their street. “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,” Sullivan said. The child was then hit and dragged a few feet, police said. Montero stayed at the scene. Police said his breath smelled of alcohol, and his eyes were red and glassy. Montero was wearing a bathing suit with no shoes or shirt at the time of the crash.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. They said other signs pointed to impairment as well, including his emotions and priorities, which are 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. Mothers Against Drunk Driving Central Florida said it’s a tragedy seen all too often. “It’s really devastating,” said Erynn Sendrick, program manager of MADD Central Florida. The little boy’s neighborhood is rallying around the family, with neighbor Annie Brown starting a GoFundMe page that raised thousands in a matter of hours. She said in a statement, “Everyone in Oak Bend is cognizant of the precious lives that live here, even those without children themselves. Nobody is perfect, and even I have found myself distracted while driving through our neighborhood, even with three children of my own. But this was an accident that could have been completely avoided if better choices were made by those operating moving vehicles. I did not know this wonderful mother prior to the incident, but it was a knee-jerk reaction to jump in and try to support this family when they absolutely need it the most.” The statement continued: “Our collective goal is to make sure these parents know they are loved and supported. Lake County is such a special part of Florida, because it still holds small town values. I knew our community would rally around this family, so I sought permission from this precious mother to create the GoFundMe campaign. Friends and family from all over the United States have contributed, and the support is still climbing. I give all glory to God, because He put it on my heart to get this support started, and He will be the one to see this family through.” MADD says they have support available as well. Those impacted can call 1-877-MADD-HELP (1-877-623-3435). “We’re in our communities working, so we have connections with different organizations that can help you,” Sendrick said. “Whether it’s grief groups or you need financial assistance, whatever you may need at that time, we’re here to take as much off your plate as we can.” As of Tuesday night, Montero was being held on no bond. >> This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available

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