Life is full of decisions, and sometimes, those decisions lead to deep regrets. A father in Minnesota is experiencing an unimaginable regret right now.
54-year-old Lance Alan Koeckeritz was responsible for his 10-year-old daughter, Savannah, and her friend, Alexis Gibson. While they were in his care, the girls went for a ride on an ATV. Although children of their age are allowed to operate ATVs under state law, they are restricted to a 110cc engine. Unfortunately, the ATV they were using had a much more powerful 800cc engine.
Tragically, the two girls were crushed under the weight of the vehicle. When emergency workers arrived, they could do nothing more than pronounce the girls dead at the scene.
As a result, an investigation was initiated, and Koeckeritz now faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and child endangerment. He finds the situation ‘mind-blowing.’
In a heartfelt interview, he shared: “We lost our daughter and her friend. It’s devastating. … The fact that the county prosecutor would even be contemplating charges is mind-blowing. Isn’t it enough that my other kids have lost their sister due to a freak accident?”
The heartbroken father explained that using the ATV wasn’t unusual for his daughter. The family had spent countless hours on four-wheelers, something he considered a part of their upbringing.
Koeckeritz described the fatal accident, saying: “She was making a left-hand turn, and a wheel got caught in a divot. It was just unforeseen.”
Horrifically, Jennifer Koeckeritz, along with another child, tried their best to perform CPR on Savannah and Alexis. First responders also made efforts to save the girls, but it was too late; both were declared dead at the scene.
At the time of the accident, the father was not present to supervise the girls. His wife, who was at work, returned home at 4:15 PM and immediately became worried when she could not locate the girls.
Another child in the household eventually discovered the tragic sight—both girls crushed under the ATV without any protective gear. With a full tank of gas, the vehicle weighs about 1000 pounds.
