Idaho Father Charged with Manslaughter After Deadly Crash While Distracted by Phone

An Idaho father has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and injury to a child after his 7-year-old son was killed in a rear-end collision on Thanksgiving Eve. Austin Summers, 31, caused the crash while driving at excessive speeds of 73-75 mph in a 65 mph zone, according to police reports. The incident occurred when Summers' GMC pickup truck slammed into a Ford F-450 that was traveling only about 7 mph with its hazard lights on due to a mechanical issue.

Summers had been actively using his phone moments before the crash, reportedly filming an Instagram "story" and browsing Amazon while driving westbound on Interstate 84. He also captured video of another accident he witnessed just minutes prior to his own collision. Blood tests revealed that cocaine and opiates were present in Summers' system at the time of the crash.

The probable cause affidavit obtained by local media indicates that Graham Summers, Austin's oldest son, was not wearing a seat belt and was sitting in the passenger seat when the accident occurred. His two younger brothers, aged 3 and 5, who were also in the vehicle, sustained injuries but survived. A crash reconstruction specialist determined that phone use, speeding, and failure to ensure proper passenger safety contributed significantly to the collision.

Summers admitted during an interview with investigators that Graham was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. He claimed he had no recollection of the crash itself but remembered his children being "rambunctious" before getting on the freeway. In court filings, Summers expressed regret over his actions, stating, "I should have immediately pulled over and made sure he was properly buckled."

Graham's mother told police that it was not uncommon for Summers to drive with their children unbuckled. This pattern of behavior has raised serious concerns about the safety practices in the family.

Summers faces a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on August 6th for a preliminary hearing. The case highlights the dangers of distracted driving and underscores the importance of following traffic laws and ensuring child safety while operating vehicles.