Dad Let His Ten-Year-Old Daughter Ride an ATV with Her Friend, But They Wrecked It and Died
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A father’s decision to let his daughter and her friend operate an ATV ended in a double tragedy, leading to criminal charges against him. Lance Alan Koeckeritz, 54, called the second-degree manslaughter and child endangerment charges “mind-blowing” on Monday, three months after the accident that killed his daughter, Savanna, 10, and her friend, 10-year-old Alexis Gibson.
The incident occurred on the family’s property near Afton, Minnesota, where Savanna was allowed to operate an ATV with an 800cc engine. Alexis was a passenger in the vehicle when it overturned, trapping both girls underneath. Both children were pronounced dead at the scene, prompting an investigation that culminated in Koeckeritz being charged on Friday in Washington County District Court.
He is scheduled to appear in court on August 19. “Us and the kids have hundreds of hours on four-wheelers,” Koeckeritz told The Star Tribune over the phone. “It’s the way we all grew up… There wasn’t a lack of confidence in her abilities. She was making a left-hand turn, and a wheel got caught in a divot. It was just unforeseen.”
Koeckeritz expressed surprise at the charges, given that his family had “just lost our daughter and her friend.” He said, “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 our daughter due to a freak accident?”
Koeckeritz, who has a wife and six other children, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Photos on his social media before the tragedy show him enjoying life with his wife Jennifer and their three kids. Some images depict Savanna performing extreme stunts like kneeboarding and one of Koeckeritz’s sons in the driver’s seat of a stationary four-wheeler.
The mother and father posted memorials for their lost daughter, describing her as “a sweet-hearted and loving child who was adored by everyone she met.” They remembered her as someone who “always had a smile on her face, a hug to give, and always wanted to snuggle up to watch a movie or read a book.”
“She loved life, she enjoyed camping, riding ATVs, boating, and kneeboarding,” the obituary continued. “She spent hours riding her bike, driving around in the golf cart with her brother, and begged to go for motorcycle rides with her daddy. Savanna was fearless. She would ride any ride at the amusement park, even the biggest roller coasters. She loved the thrill and the wind in her hair.”
The ATV involved in the crash had an engine far beyond what is recommended for children Savanna’s age. In Minnesota, children may operate an ATV up to 110cc on public lands and frozen waters, but even for these smaller engines, a guardian’s presence is required. The ATV Savanna drove had an engine roughly eight times more powerful, with a top speed of around 100 mph, according to Twin Cities Pioneer Press.
First responders arrived to find Jennifer performing CPR on the two girls. Despite efforts from deputies and emergency officials, the girls were pronounced dead at the scene. Koeckeritz admitted to investigators that his children were allowed to operate the ATV whenever they wished, without adult supervision or permission. This practice is illegal according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which recommends a maximum engine size of 110cc for children aged 10 and 11.
