A tragic off-road vehicle accident has resulted in the death of a 19-month-old toddler and serious charges against his grandfather, Miguel A. Pacheco, 37. The incident occurred on Sunday near Sedona, Arizona, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. Pacheco was allegedly driving under the influence and is now facing manslaughter charges along with multiple other offenses including aggravated assault and felony endangerment.
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office stated that during the ride along Forest Service Road 535 and State Route 89A, the vehicle, a Razer side-by-side, rolled over. The toddler, who was not in a proper child safety seat, was ejected. Pacheco is also the uncle to two other passengers, a 17-year-old and a 7-year-old, who were injured in the crash, according to details from AZ Central.
Jazelle Pacheco, the mother of the late Antonio Pacheco, expressed her profound loss in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix: "It's hard to accept the fact that I'm not a mom anymore. I don't have a baby to take care of. I don't have a little boy always at my legs." The family's grief is echoed by the toddler's grandmother, Priscilla Palma, who recounted the bright joy Antonio brought into their lives. A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to help with the funeral expenses of the young victim.
Furthermore, this incident joins a troubling list of fatalities involving off-road vehicles in Arizona for the year 2025. Earlier in April, two young sisters tragically passed away in a similar accident in Greenlee County, as highlighted in an AZ Central report. This raises serious concerns about the safety of off-road driving activities, particularly when children are involved and necessary safety precautions may not have been strictly followed.
In the wake of this tragedy, the community is rallying to support the grieving family. Two car washes were organized to further assist with costs, taking place on June 28 at AJ's Tire Shop and June 29 at Funny Farm Lounge, with details shared by FOX 10 Phoenix. These efforts are a somber reminder of the community's role in coming together to aid those facing unimaginable loss.
