Man charged in motorcycle death of 4-year-old son

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Oct 6, 2008 at 8:06 AM EST

Story Updated: Oct 6, 2008 at 8:06 AM EST

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — An East Peoria man was in handcuffs when he said goodbye to his dead 4-year-old son, the victim of a motorcycle accident in the parking lot of a Peoria lumberyard.

Police say 21-year-old Michael Wells was performing a wheelie on his motorcycle in the parking lot late Saturday afternoon when he struck his son, Ashton, who was riding a bicycle nearby.

Michael Wells was arrested later Saturday evening for aggravated reckless driving, operating a motorcycle on one wheel, and other charges.

Ashton's grandmother, Crystal Wells, said Saturday was the first time the boy was allowed to watch his father and his friends practice motorcycle stunts. She told police Ashton darted away from his mother and rode toward his father so quickly that Michael Wells didn't have time to react.

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Information from: Journal Star, http://pjstar.com

Monday, Oct 13 at 1:04 PM julie williams wrote ...

who ru people out there that have no remorse for people everyone makes mistakes we dont live in a bubble and kids do get hurt it was called an ACCIDENT for a reason to the family i am very very sorry for ur loss

Thursday, Oct 9 at 9:06 PM wow wrote ...

an accident isn't something that happens when your showing off with children present! children learn from their parents actions, not die from their parents actions. NO ACCIDENT

Wednesday, Oct 8 at 2:56 PM ii wrote ...

Sad, sad story. I'm guessing he was arrested for violating driving laws and such, because if anyone "neglected" the child, it was the mother who should have been keeping him out of the way. Isn't "kids dart" a popular mantra just now? Don't we see it on signs all over? Doesn't that mean it's hard to predict where a kid will suddenly move to? Which I suppose means anyone with commonsense would have realized this was an extra dangerous location and required extra diligence and control. Sad.

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 11:40 PM You've got to be kidding wrote ...

Surely this man is out of jail now. He made a stinken mistake, a mistake that will kill his soul, why make it worse. Has he killed, raped, molested, robbed, etc.? If he has no bad record, leave the man alone. I am just blown away by this. What he needs is a hug from a judge not a slap in the face. I believe he learned his lesson the 1st second, let him go.

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 7:59 PM sad wrote ...

wow. what was the definition of accident again?

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 6:27 PM Trebor wrote ...

This man will suffer the rest of his life without any help from our fine government! Want to put somebody in cuffs? start with some wall street pigs!!

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 6:11 PM Anonymous wrote ...

YEah like the guy did it on purpose! Your all a bunch of conservative morons.. Then u bring truck drivers in on it.. Get a life.. And a reality check.

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 3:45 PM anonymous wrote ...

I don't see how they can charge this man. Hey, why not charge the wife too? She was suppose to be watching him. It's CRAZY!! This was a horrible, freak accident. The grief he feels each day, should be more than sufficient punishment. Prayers go out to your family.

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 9:23 AM bee wrote ...

hey 9:32AM:you definatly did NOT impress alot of people with your comment.this man wasnt being neglectful. he was trying to impress his son,not hurt him.youre the punk!hes in enough pain wthout your comments.

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 8:55 AM Michelle wrote ...

Any one who has young children know how fast they can be.Sounds to me like all this was,was an unfortunate ACCIDENT.I thik our society has forgotten that accidents happen and not everyone needs to be condemned and a finger pointed with blame when an accident happens!This poor father will be dealing with this the rest of his life,sounds like a life sentance to me already...

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 8:17 AM Ed wrote ...

We are always quick to judge others parenting skills this dreadful accident will always be on the fathers mind (many times driving the person to madness or drugs) Theres no psychiatric help waiting for father at the jail, only harsh words from some other S.O.B telling him to get in line(it's not even registering in his mind cause his mind has not returned to Our Normal Standard of thinking What Motive would the parents have to let this to happen to their child? My prays go to his Family.

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 5:29 AM Laura wrote ...

Great points..3:34 wondering, and 8:37 me!!! I totally agree with you! He wasn't out on a street. It was in a parking lot. One of my first thoughts when I read this article, is and a truck driver didn't get charged and this man did???? I think this needs to be rethought.

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 12:29 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Even tho this is terrible, motorcycles have 2 wheels for a reason.. and these daredevil kids need to learn to respect of them.

Monday, Oct 6 at 8:37 PM me wrote ...

hmmmm , but yet they dont file charges when a PROFESSIONAL truck driver runs over a motor cycle cuz he was spacing off at a red light

Monday, Oct 6 at 4:02 PM Praying for you wrote ...

It is crazy to me how we decided whether or not to press charges. He didn't intend on killing his son. Isn't that the reason they give us when they don't charge someone? Im sorry for your loss I will pray for you and your family.

Monday, Oct 6 at 3:48 PM Laura wrote ...

The father will live with this the rest of his life. I can't see any malice in this. Don't think that this could not happen to you.

Monday, Oct 6 at 3:34 PM Wondering wrote ...

Its bad enough that he has to live with the fact he killed his son, why did they arrest him? A lady left her two year old in the car for hrs in the heat and killed it, got away with nothing (not sure how you forget a toddler, that youve been taking care of for years, not like a new child).. this seems like it was an honest mistake/accident! Geez... leave the poor guy alone..

Monday, Oct 6 at 12:58 PM mom wrote ...

All i could think of was "poor baby". That father will have to live with this for life and kids dart around so fast he wouldnt have had time to get the bike under control. When you are showing a young child something that is dangerous you must instill in them the danger part over and over to keep them safe. i am sure the little boy never thought about how his dad had no control of the bike with the front wheel in the air.

Monday, Oct 6 at 12:38 PM renee wrote ...

its amazing how they can charge this young father but the truck driver that killed a stopped motorcycle when his motorcycle stalled gets of free this was an accident to and he will be dealing with it for the rest of his life.

Monday, Oct 6 at 10:50 AM To sad wrote ...

How sad as parent i must have admit i showed off in front of my kids but in a safe and loving manner its a real sad accident my prayers are with the family.

Monday, Oct 6 at 10:34 AM Kinzmom wrote ...

Maybe he should of taken him with him and left him in the car for hours and let him die then at least it would of been ruled an accident and he wouldnt be being charged for his mistake... this world makes no sense to me.. at least he was trying to spend some time with him not out drinking and doing drugs get real people. So sorry for your loss. Yes it happened because he was showing off but Im sure he didnt intend for him to run away from his mother.

Monday, Oct 6 at 9:51 AM A mother in Goshen wrote ...

How incredibly sad. I can't even begin to imagine what that family is going through. One stupid mistake, and it cost your child his life. My prayers are with all involved. God has another sweet angel now.

Monday, Oct 6 at 9:32 AM wow wrote ...

i hope you get everything you deserve punk. another child lost due to parent negligence. you definitley impressed a lot of people.

Monday, Oct 6 at 8:58 AM bee wrote ...

this man was probably showing off for his son being that it was the first time they let him watch and runs him over.how awful for him!kids are quick tho.and then to get arrested for it.im sure hes punished enough for the fact that his son is dead.its not like thats what he had in mind at the time.accidents do happen.i feel for this family.

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