Dad faces criminal charges after letting little girl take friend for a ride on ATV that ended in horrific double-tragedy

A dad's decision to let his daughter and friend operate an ATV ended in a double tragedy, and he now faces criminal charges following the fatal four-wheeled ride.

Lance Alan Koeckeritz, 54, called the second-degree manslaughter and child endangerment charges 'mind-blowing' on Monday - three months after the wreck that killed his daughter Savanna, 10, and 10-year-old Alexis Gibson.

The incident occurred on the family's property near Afton, Minnesota, where Savannah was allowed to operate the ATV with an 800cc engine.

Along for the ride was Alexis, who was eventually found with the underage driver under the overturned ATV's full weight.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene, spurring an investigation culminating with Koeckeritz being charged on Friday in Washington County District Court. He is due in court on August 19.

'Us and the kids have hundreds of hours on four-wheelers,' Koeckeritz told The Star Tribune over the phone.

'It's the way we all grew up… There wasn't a lack of confidence in her abilities. She was making a left-hand turn, and a wheel got caught in a divot. It was just unforeseen.'

He added that he was unaware of the charges filed a few days before, and was surprised by them given that he and his family had 'just lost our daughter and her friend.'

'It's devastating,' he said. 'The fact that the county prosecutor would even be contemplating charges is mind-blowing. 

'Isn't it enough that my other kids have lost our daughter due to a freak accident?'

Koeckeritz, who has a wife and six other children, did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on Tuesday.

Photos on his social media before the tragedy show him enjoying life with wife Jennifer and their three kids, with four of Koeckeritz's children stemming from a different union.

Others show Savanna performing extreme stunts like kneeboarding - similar to wakeboarding - and one Koeckeritz's sons in the driver's seat of a stationary four-wheeled vehicle.

More recently, the mother and father posted memorials for their lost middle child, telling onlookers, 'Our beautiful baby girl was called home to Jesus.'

They remember her as 'a sweet hearted and loving child who was adored by everyone she met,' saying that she 'always had a smile on her face, a hug to give, and always wanted to snuggle up to watch a movie or read a book.'

'Savanna loved life, she enjoyed camping, riding ATV, boating and Knee-boarding,' the obituary continued. 'She spent hours riding her bike, driving around in the golf cart with her brother, and begged to go for motorcycle rides with her daddy.'

'Savanna was fearless,' it went on. 'She would ride any ride at the amusement park; even the biggest roller coasters. She loved the thrill and the wind in her hair. 

'[She] loved to try new things especially different foods and would even eat sushi with mommy.'

The heartbreaking offering continued: 'Savanna loved her friends and would spend hours chatting and playing games with them on her phone. She was so outgoing and friendly, she made friends wherever she went.'

'[She] truly enjoyed life; she was always wearing a smile and wanted everyone to be happy,' the post concluded.

'She had an adventurous soul that was always willing to try new things. She loved animals, especially cats, dogs and wolves. Even though she left us too soon, we were blessed to have her in our lives.'

Meanwhile, the ATV that swerved and crashed had an engine boasting power far beyond what the state recommends for children Savanna's age. 

In Minnesota, children may operate an ATV up to 110cc on public lands and frozen waters. Even for engines this small, the presence of a guardian is required.

The engine used by Savanna during her and Lexi's last ride had an engine roughly eight times the power, with a top speed around 100 mph.

After the crash, first-responders reported arriving to the rural residence to see Jennifer performing CPR on the two girls. 

Deputies and emergency officials then took over, but the girls were pronounced dead at the scene.

They were told how Alexis had arrived at the home the day before for a sleepover, and her mother has yet to comment on the impending case.

An obituary was posted for her as well, as her and Savanna were revealed to be classmates at the combined fourth- and fifth-grade class at New Heights School in Stillwater.   

'Our beloved Lexi was taken from us unexpectedly and all too soon on Saturday, April 22, 2023,' relatives wrote.

'Her classmates will remember her infections laugh and brilliant smile. Her brown beautiful eyes sparkled. 

'She loved space and the northern lights and hanging out with her mom. Lexi possessed wisdom beyond her years,' it continued.

'Her family knows the hole left by her absence will be impossible to fill, but are comforted that Ricky and her grandpa Tony are taking care of her now.

'Lexi is survived by her mother, Casey Lewis; sister, Haley Collmar; grandma Brenda; grandpa Nick; grandpa Gary; aunt Angie; Uncle Jamie.'

Cops, meanwhile, revealed that Lance had been home of the day of the crash, and gave permission to the two girls to go through with the ride.

Detectives went on to recall how the dad was not even aware they crashed, with the discovery  only being made by another child a the residence around 5 pm, 45 minutes after mom Jennifer arrived home asking why the two kids nowhere to be found.

Upon being questioned, Koeckeritz told cops the family's children were allowed to operate the ATV whenever they wished, without notification of an adult or permission.

In filing documents, officers pointed out how this is illegal. 

'Per the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,' the charges read, 'the recommended engine size for children 10 and 11 is up to 110cc.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to County Attorney Kevin Magnuson, who made the decision to bring charges against Koeckeritz.