A father and his mother in Bristol, Virginia, face felony homicide charges after a tractor overturned on the man's 3-year-old son, trapping him underneath. Authorities say the pair waited 22 minutes to call 911, contributing to the boy's death by asphyxiation. Both were arrested without bond.
On April 23, Austin Tester, 21, was driving a farm tractor with his 3-year-old son seated on his lap in the 100 block of Davis Alley in Bristol, Virginia. The tractor overturned, trapping the boy underneath, according to the Bristol Police Department. Tester contacted his mother, Kelly Tester, 41, at about 11:17 a.m. before calling emergency services; she arrived shortly after, but they delayed dialing 911 for 22 minutes. Responders arrived 31 minutes after the incident and lifted the tractor to free the child, who was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy showed preliminary cause of death as asphyxiation, with police stating the delay significantly hindered lifesaving efforts. Tester fled the scene due to an outstanding probation violation from a prior drug offense. Officers found him at his mother's residence, where Kelly Tester allegedly provided false information to conceal him, leading to her additional obstruction of justice charge. Both face felony homicide, child abuse, and neglect charges. Bristol Police Chief D. Byron Ashbrook called it a 'heartbreaking and tragic incident,' expressing concern over the delay and sympathy for the family and first responders. Austin Tester was booked into the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority without bond, while Kelly Tester was held in the Abingdon Facility.