A 14-month-old boy was struck and killed outside his family’s restaurant, with investigators saying the driver was under the influence at the time of the crash.
ANDERSON, SC – A quiet evening outside a local restaurant turned fatal Sunday night when a toddler wandered into the roadway and was struck by a truck, leading to a felony DUI charge against a 62-year-old driver. The child, identified as Christopher Rodrigo Perez Tapia, later died at a hospital after suffering critical injuries.
Officers responded to the crash around 8:15 p.m. near El Latino Bar and Grill on South Murray Avenue, according to local reports. Emergency crews transported the child to a hospital, where he succumbed to multiple traumatic injuries, the Anderson County Coroner’s Office confirmed. The manner of death was ruled accidental.
Child wandered into roadway moments before crash
Investigators said the child’s parents had been cleaning the restaurant after closing when the boy’s father stepped outside to take out the trash, not realizing the toddler had followed. Authorities said the child then entered the roadway, where he was struck by a truck driven by David Ronald Metz.
Witnesses told investigators the incident unfolded quickly, leaving little time to react once the child was in the street. Following the collision, Metz allegedly continued driving before turning around and returning to the scene.
Officials said impairment played a role in the crash. “Yes, the child was in the roadway when he was hit. But at the same time, if the driver would not have been under the influence, he may, could have reacted a little bit quicker and switched lanes,” Alyssa Whitfield of the coroner’s office told WYFF.
Driver charged, investigation ongoing
Metz was taken into custody and charged with one felony count of DUI involving death. During a bond hearing, a judge set bail at $60,000 and ordered that Metz wear a GPS monitoring device if released. He is also prohibited from contacting the victim’s family or returning to the business where the crash occurred.
The child’s family did not attend the hearing. “The family is devastated,” Anderson Police Detective McKindra Bibb said. “They are unable to even pull it together enough to come to court this afternoon. It’s been less than 24 hours since their baby died.”
Authorities said the case remains under investigation by the Anderson Police Department, with assistance from the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Metz is scheduled to appear in court on June 11.
South Carolina DUI crash, toddler killed Anderson SC, El Latino Bar and Grill incident, David Ronald Metz arrest, Christopher Perez Tapia death