10-19-2007
Authorities have charged a Vancouver, Washington man with
vehicular homicide, after a sledding accident killed his 9-year-old daughter. The accident occurred January 16, 2007.

The father, Peter Gecho, was pulling his daughter, Madison, on an inner-tube attached by rope to the back of his pickup truck. The inner-tube went out of control and slammed into a low lying brick wall, killing the child. Witnesses reported that the girl was not wearing a helmet. They also observed that Gecho had been drinking at the time of the accident.

Reminder: Sleds can hit speeds that easily exceed a child riding
a bike, and they are virtually uncontrollable. Tree’s, fences, and
snow-covered rocks make it especially dangerous. For more
information, please see sled safety tips.