An Idaho man, Austin Summers, 31, faces involuntary manslaughter charges after a Thanksgiving-week crash on Interstate 84 that killed his 7-year-old son. According to court documents and reporting by multiple outlets, investigators allege Summers was driving a black GMC Sierra when he rear-ended a 2013 white Ford F450 that was experiencing mechanical issues. The child was killed in the crash.
Investigators say Summers had been using his cellphone in the moments before the collision. The allegations include that he was drafting an Instagram story, browsing Amazon and looking at cell phone pictures shortly before the crash. Prosecutors contend the alleged phone use contributed to the incident, while the filings describe the events through the lens of the charging decision.
Both outlets describe the core claims that the crash occurred on I-84, the victim was Summers’ son, and Summers faces criminal charges tied to alleged distracted driving and the moments leading up to the crash. The case proceeds through the court system.
