A Texas man has been arrested and charged with manslaughter for allegedly running over and killing two kids with a backhoe. Authorities claim that the children had been riding in a backhoe bucket before they were ejected from the bucket and subsequently crushed by the digger.
Vijender Chauhan, 40, was arrested and processed Sunday into the Denton County Jail in connection with the deaths of the two Roanoke, Texas children, the Denton Record-Chronicle reported. It’s likely the two victims were Chauhan’s own children but authorities have yet to confirm their identity.
A Texas Man Has Been Charged with Manslaughter After Allegedly Running Over and Killing Two Children with a Backhoe.
Chauhan allegedly operated a backhoe while children and adults rode as passengers on several parts of the machinery’s equipment before they fell.
“Preliminary investigation indicates a John Deere backhoe was traveling southwest on Chapel Hill Court with multiple children and adults riding on various moving parts of the backhoe,” Lonny Haschel, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said. “While in motion, the driver of the backhoe operated equipment causing the front bucket to dump, and occupants riding in the bucket fell to the ground.”
After the two children fell from the bucket Chauhan allegedly ran over them with the backhoe. While authorities did say that the family resided in Roanoke, they did not confirm whether the two children who were crushed were related to the man who has been charged.
The two victims, a 7-year-old girl and 11-year-old boy, were pronounced dead at the scene around 7:49 PM. The Tarrant County medical examiner’s website Tuesday hadn’t yet listed a cause or method of death for the two children. Their last names are also Chauhan, the Denton Record-Chronicle reported.
In addition to the two deceased victims, two more children and an adult were rushed to local trauma centers. Haschel said the adult’s injuries were serious. Chauhan was unharmed in the incident.
Haschel was asked about the status of the three injured individuals but said that due to privacy laws, no updates could be given except in the event of a death. “The good news is, we have had no updates at this point,” he said.
“It is difficult to find the words to express the sorrow we all feel for the loss of our young students,” Head of School Blair Lowry, of Trinity Valley School, said of the two deceased children. “Teachers, coaches, and administrators have provided opportunities for students to navigate their grief or to find solace in play or routine. We will continue to support our students in the days and weeks to come.”
In addition to the two counts of manslaughter, Chauhan is also charged with three counts of endangering a child and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He posted $280,000 bail the day of his arrest and was released, the Record-Chronicle reported.
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Manslaughter is a second-degree felony that carries a sentence of two to 20 years in prison if convicted. This is an awful tragedy with devastating consequences. Backhoes and other machinery are not toys and should not be operated unless trained and licensed to do so.
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