Background: The Haile Detention Center in Canyon County, Idaho (Google Maps). Inset: Skylar Keeth (Nampa Police Department).
An Idaho woman faces charges after allegedly driving under the influence with three children and a man in the back of her pickup truck, resulting in the man being thrown from the vehicle.
Skylar Keeth, 25, has been charged with aggravated DUI and three counts of child endangerment following the incident that led to the death of 46-year-old Miguel Martinez. The Nampa Police Department reported the charges on Tuesday, noting that further charges may be forthcoming.
The incident occurred on Saturday in Nampa, a city near Boise, Idaho, as Keeth drove a Toyota Tundra. Martinez was riding in the truck bed with three children, according to police reports.
Police stated that while Keeth was driving, one of the individuals in the truck bed dropped an item. In their attempt to alert Keeth, the vehicle unexpectedly sped up instead of slowing down, resulting in Martinez being thrown from the truck.
The Nampa Police Department received multiple 911 calls about a man who had fallen from a moving pickup truck and was injured on the road. Officers arriving at the scene found Martinez unresponsive, but detected a pulse upon initiating CPR.
Emergency medical personnel continued to administer life-saving efforts, transporting Martinez to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Authorities did not state the nature of the relationship between Keeth, Martinez, and the children.
Investigators determined that Keeth had been drinking alcohol prior to Martinez falling from the vehicle, according to Nampa Police Corporal Jeffrey Stark.
“This needless death is the result of careless actions and driving under the influence of alcohol,” he said. “There is no excuse for drunk driving. The consequences of this crash will last a lifetime for those involved, including three young kids, who were thankfully not physically harmed. Please drive sober!”
