On June 20, 2022, a 10-year-old boy died in a motor vehicle accident in Weld County, Colorado. The child's father, who had a blood alcohol level of .255 ("critically high"), was driving the car with the child and a sibling as passengers. The parents had taken a shot of alcohol together before the father left with the children. During the drive, the father reportedly asked the sibling to hold the steering wheel so he could drink more alcohol. The car rolled a total of three times; the child was ejected from the sunroof on the second roll and was crushed by the vehicle. The sibling sustained injuries including a broken nose, stitches, a broken tailbone, and bruising. Both parents had extensive histories of alcohol abuse and domestic violence, and the family had been involved with child protective services for years prior to the incident. The father was charged and pled guilty to Vehicular Homicide - DUI and Child Abuse-knowing/reckless Cause SBI.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report documents multiple instances of inappropriate supervision. The mother, who was intoxicated, allowed the children to leave with the intoxicated father: "the mother was intoxicated during the home visit, as well as at the time of the incident, allowing the child and the sibling to go into the car with the father, who was also intoxicated." Additionally, the report notes that "the onus was on the children to decide whether it was safe to drive with the father as he began drinking in the car," and "it appears that although the father was driving the vehicle, he asked sibling to hold the wheel during the drive so he could drink alcohol." Prior referrals also mentioned the child being left home alone.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
The fatality report explicitly states the child died in a motor vehicle accident. It describes: "On June 20, 2022 Weld County Department of Human Services (WCDHS) received a report of concern about the child's death in a motor vehicle accident." Additionally, law enforcement explained "during the accident, the car rolled a total of three times. The child was ejected from the car's sunroof on the second roll, and crushed by the car."
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The fatality report identifies the "Father" as the driver of the vehicle at the time of the fatal crash. He was "'very intoxicated'" with a blood alcohol level of .255. The report describes the parents' relationship and their children together, strongly implying this is the biological father. The father was charged and pled guilty to Vehicular Homicide - DUI and Child Abuse-knowing/reckless Cause SBI.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report states the mother was involved in the circumstances leading to the child's death. She was intoxicated and allowed the children to leave with the intoxicated father: "the mother was intoxicated during the home visit, as well as at the time of the incident, allowing the child and the sibling to go into the car with the father, who was also intoxicated." The referral also stated "that [the parents] took a shot together before [the father] took the children in the car." Allegations of neglect - environment injurious were substantiated against the family.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report documents extensive prior child protection involvement: "Within the last three years, the family had current and prior involvement with Weld County Department of Human Services, consisting of one current case, three prior prevention cases, eight prior referrals, and two prior assessments." The timeline details multiple referrals dating back to 8/31/2020 regarding concerns about the children including school behavior issues, home in disarray, educational neglect, and the father's drinking.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The fatality report states: "The father was initially charged with Child Abuse-knowing/reckless Cause Death, Vehicular Homicide - DUI, Vehicular Assault DUI, Driving under the Influence, Reckless Endangerment and Reckless Driving. The father pled guilty to Child Abuse-knowing/reckless Cause SBI and Vehicular Homicide - DUI."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report explicitly references domestic violence: "The parents had a tumultuous relationship and fought with one another when they were drinking. The child and the sibling were present for the fighting/domestic violence." It also states: "There was documented domestic violence between the parents, with the father as the perpetrator of the violence." Domestic Violence is also listed as one of the three Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) at play in this family.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report references mental health of the parents. The report identifies "Mental Health Struggles" as one of the three Adverse Childhood Experiences at play in the family. Additionally, a prior assessment (12/20/2021-1/24/2022) concerned "the father threatening to stab himself in the presence of the sibling," which indicates suicidal ideation/mental health issues for the father.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report extensively documents substance use by both parents. It states: "Both parents experienced alcoholism and drank to excess. Both parents sought treatment for their drinking, but it continued to be a problem for them." The mother also used methamphetamine: "The mother used methamphetamine at times, but her substance of choice was alcohol." The father's blood alcohol level was .255 at the time of the incident. There were also concerns about the father using marijuana.
Notable Details
The fatality report contains several notable details. First, "it appears that although the father was driving the vehicle, he asked sibling to hold the wheel during the drive so he could drink alcohol," indicating the father actively drank while driving and placed children in further danger. Second, the report identifies a systemic gap: "referrals regarding the parents' alcohol abuse were screened out, but there was no documentation which showed that the parent's drinking did not negatively affect the child and the sibling." Eight prior referrals were screened out, many with the reason "No information available from reporter of abuse and neglect as defined in law," despite a pattern of alcohol-related concerns. Third, the CFRT notably "did not make a formal recommendation regarding the review of this incident," despite identifying the systemic gap. Fourth, the father's blood alcohol level was .255, described as "critically high," which is over three times the legal limit.
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