DAD STRAPPED HIS 15-MONTH-OLD SON TO HIS CHEST AND ATTEMPTED A MOTORCYCLE WHEELIE — NOW HE’S HEADING TO PRISON

What was supposed to be a motorcycle ride ended in an unimaginable tragedy when a Kentucky father attempted a wheelie with his 15-month-old son strapped to his chest.

More than two years later, Joseph Traylor, 50, has learned his fate. The Princeton, Kentucky, father was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to vehicular manslaughter while under the influence and reckless driving in connection with the death of his toddler son, Terry.

The crash happened on July 5, 2024, at around 6:45 p.m. on Beverly Lane in Princeton. According to police, Traylor was riding the motorcycle the wrong way on a one-way street while Terry was strapped to his chest.

Then, investigators said, he attempted the wheelie.

Traylor lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into a telephone pole. Both father and son were rushed to a hospital, but Terry’s injuries were fatal. The 15-month-old was later pronounced dead, while Traylor was flown to a hospital in Nashville for treatment.

The case initially carried an even more serious charge.

A grand jury indicted Traylor on murder, along with reckless driving and DUI charges. He initially pleaded not guilty. But in July 2026, prosecutors and Traylor reached a plea agreement that reduced the murder charge to vehicular homicide while under the influence of drugs or substances.

At Friday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors emphasized the devastating impact Terry’s death had on his family. Circuit Judge Jamus Redd described the case as a horrible tragedy and said he hoped the sentence could provide the family with at least some measure of closure.

Traylor will not be eligible for parole until he has served 85% of the 20-year sentence, according to the courtroom report. He also declined when the judge gave him an opportunity to address the court.

For Terry’s family, however, no sentence can undo what happened that summer evening.

His obituary remembered the little boy for his “infectious smile,” describing him as a child whose short life brought joy to those around him.

Now, Traylor will spend years behind bars, while Terry’s loved ones are left to live with the consequences of a decision that lasted only moments — but changed an entire family forever.

What was going through Traylor’s mind when he attempted the stunt with his toddler strapped to him? Why was he riding the wrong way on a one-way street — and could this tragedy have been prevented?

Read the full story for the details of the fatal crash, the charges that were originally filed, and the sentence Traylor will now have to serve.

Source: Law&Crime — Full Story