By Cindy Peterson

September 3, 2024

Community Unites to Support Family After Tragic Event Claims Life of 2-Year-Old in Tavares

2.5 min read| Published On: September 3rd, 2024|

By Cindy Peterson

Community Unites to Support Family After Tragic Event Claims Life of 2-Year-Old in Tavares

2.5 min read| Published On: September 3rd, 2024|

The Lake County community is rallying to support the Lepping family after a heartbreaking event claimed the life of their 2-year-old son, Asher. A fundraiser has been organized to help the family cope with this devastating loss and the overwhelming response on social media has shown the deep sense of compassion.

According to local news sources, Asher was riding his blue toddler tricycle with his sister near a cul-de-sac in their quiet gated community on Monday evening, with his parents nearby, when a speeding vehicle struck him. Despite desperate efforts by his parents and neighbors, Asher was taken to AdventHealth Waterman Hospital, where he later passed away.

Family friend and neighbor Annie Brown has set up a GoFundMe page to help the family during this unimaginable time.

Brown’s plea has been met with an outpouring of donations and support from the local community and beyond, already exceeding their initial goal amount in less than four hours. The fundraiser aims to provide financial relief to the family and honor Asher’s memory.

“We, in the Oak Bend neighborhood, are all absolutely devastated for her and her husband,” Annie said on social media. “As a mom, I want to take this pain from her, but I can’t. However, I can ask that we all support her monetarily through Venmo. Her Venmo tag is @klepping. Please be in DEDICATED prayer for her, her husband, and her little girl who is already missing her brother.”

The Tavares Police Department continues its investigation into the incident. The driver, 19-year-old Joshua Aidan Montero, has been charged with DUI manslaughter, with evidence suggesting he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

Here is the Tavares Police Department’s account of the incident:

“Last night around 7:15 pm, our officers responded to the Oak Bend subdivision after receiving reports that a two year old boy was ran over by a lifted “bulldogged” truck. Upon arrival, officers observed several neighbors rendering emergency medical care to the two year old child before he was transported to Advent Health Waterman. As emergency medical care was rendered to the child, officers stood by with the driver of the truck where they observed the odor of alcohol emitting from his person. Joshua Montero, 19, presented several indicators that he was possibly under the influence of alcohol. To dispel officers’ suspicions, Joshua willingly participated in field sobriety exercises and was deemed to be under the influence of alcohol, solidified later with a breathalyzer test. While at the Lake County Jail, officers learned that the two year old boy did not survive the injuries sustained from Joshua’s carelessness. Therefore, Joshua was charged with DUI Manslaughter.

The Oak Bend neighborhood is a closed, gated community and an active, young neighborhood. The street that this took place on was a short, dead-end street where families felt safe for their children to be able to play under their supervision. Prior to the accident, witnesses stated that the truck was traveling above the posted speed and in a careless manner within the neighborhood. These reports will be followed up and investigated by investigators.

Our Traffic Homicide Investigators are working tirelessly to conduct a thorough investigation to bring justice for the family of the two year old child. Our hearts are saddened at the loss of this innocent boy’s life in something that was easily preventable.

Our agency would like to thank the neighbors that ran to action in an attempt to save the little boy’s life.

Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.

And please, slow down and do not drink and drive.”

The Oak Bend neighborhood, devastated by this loss, is also coming together to support one of their own. Let’s continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

Those wishing to contribute can visit the GoFundMe page to help the Lepping family during this difficult time.