A tragic incident unfolded on Milwaukee’s north side, where a father has been charged with the death of his 5-year-old son, Jaylen Sloan, after allegedly driving under the influence and crashing the vehicle they were in. According to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report, 34-year-old Christopher M. Sloan faces six felonies, including second-degree reckless homicide and homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.
Last Friday, Sloan allegedly drove at high speeds, lost control of his SUV, and struck two parked vehicles, the crash resulting in severe injuries to his son Jaylen and his twin brother Jaylon, who was also in the car. Neither of the children were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. Jaylen, trapped and unresponsive between the front passenger’s seat and dashboard, succumbed to his injuries, while Jaylon suffered cuts and bruises but survived. In a statement obtained by KRDO, the boys’ mother, Teaira Harriell, expressed her devastation over the loss of her son and the irreparable impact on her family.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office charged Sloan yesterday following the crash. Eyewitnesses say Sloan was seen driving erratically just before the collision. A nearby resident, who rushed to help at the scene, described Sloan’s alarming state of consciousness and the distressing efforts to rescue the children as reported by Journal Sentinel. Another witness recounted how she heard a child crying and helped remove Jaylon from the vehicle, according to the complaint.
In the aftermath, Teaira Harriell clings to a necklace with her son Jaylen’s thumbprint, as reported by FOX6 News. During Sloan's court appearance, the mother was left with questions for the father of her children, reportedly asking, "Just why?" Sloan's blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was alleged to be three times the legal limit. His charges include causing death while operating a vehicle without a valid license.
Sloan awaits legal proceedings.
