An Idaho father, Austin Summers, 31, has been charged with manslaughter in connection with a fatal car crash that killed his 7-year-old son, Graham. Court documents allege Summers was using his cell phone, including browsing Amazon and drafting an Instagram story, in the minutes leading up to the collision on Interstate 84 in Canyon County on November 25.
According to the Idaho Statesman, Summers was driving a GMC Sierra truck at speeds between 73 and 75 mph in a 65 mph zone when he allegedly rear-ended a Ford F-450 that was experiencing mechanical issues and traveling at approximately 7 mph in the far right lane. Graham Summers, the eldest son, was a passenger in the front seat and died at the scene. Summers' two other children, aged 3 and 5, were in the back seat and were uninjured.
Investigators found that Summers had been using his phone between 2:45 p.m. and 3:02 p.m. on the day of the crash. During this time, he reportedly scrolled through Instagram, browsed Amazon, took a picture of another crash site, and drafted an Instagram story with the text "Avoid th freeway heading [sic]." He also sent a text message to his estranged wife, Ashley Summers, stating "Stick [sic] in traffic." A 911 call was logged one minute after he reportedly looked at an Instagram picture.
Idaho State Police concluded that reckless driving was the primary cause of the crash, noting that Summers allegedly did not realize the vehicle in front of him was moving slowly. The mechanical issue with the Ford was deemed a secondary cause. The driver of the Ford, who was 21 at the time, was uninjured.
A urine sample taken after the crash tested positive for cocaine and opiates. Ashley Summers told investigators that her husband had admitted to using cocaine three days prior to the collision. Summers also reportedly admitted to police that his son Graham had removed his seatbelt. He stated, "While I am devastated by the loss of my son, I take responsibility not in that I was impaired by any means, or that Graham unilaterally took his seat belt off while I was driving on the freeway, but that I should have immediately pulled over and made sure he was properly buckled. That will haunt me forever."
Ashley Summers provided police with messages in which she had previously warned her husband about the children's safety while traveling in his vehicle. Tributes to Graham described him as a "sweetest, kindest, and most smiley 7-year-old" and an "amazing big brother" whose "silly spirit and infectious smile brought joy to everyone around him."
Summers faces additional charges including two counts of injury to a child and is being held at the Ada County Jail on a $500,000 bond.