PEOPLE
Dad Had Baby Son Strapped to His Chest When He Tried Motorcycle Wheelie. It Ended in Tragedy
By Christina Coulter Published on October 5, 2026 05:44PM EDT
A Kentucky father has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after his 15-month-old son died in a motorcycle crash that police said occurred when the father attempted a wheelie while the child was strapped to his chest.
Joseph Traylor, of Princeton, Ky., was sentenced in Caldwell Circuit Court on Friday, Oct. 2, in connection with the July 2024 death of his son, Terry Desmond Traylor, according to local radio station WKDZ.
Traylor pleaded guilty in July to an amended charge of vehicular homicide while under the influence of drugs or substances. He also pleaded guilty to reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle under the influence under aggravating circumstances. He had initially been charged with murder, WPKY reported.
The charges stemmed from a July 5, 2024, motorcycle crash in Princeton, per earlier reporting by WKDZ, the West Kentucky Star and WPKY.
Per a Princeton Police press release, an investigation found that Traylor was riding a motorcycle the wrong way on a one-way street with 15-month-old Terry strapped to his chest when he attempted a wheelie in the 300 block of Beverly Lane. Police said Traylor lost control of the motorcycle and struck a telephone pole.
Traylor and Terry were taken by ambulance to Caldwell Medical Center, where Terry was pronounced dead, according to police. Traylor was later flown to Skyline Medical Center in Nashville for treatment. He was arrested on a warrant following his release from the hospital.
Terry was born on March 9, 2023, in Madisonville, Ky., according to his obituary, which remembered the toddler for his “infectious smile.” He was survived by his mother, Adrianna Lewis, Traylor and several siblings.
About two months after the crash, a Caldwell County grand jury indicted Traylor on charges of murder, reckless driving and driving under the influence, WDKZ reported.
He initially pleaded not guilty during an October 2024 arraignment before Circuit Judge Jamus Redd. During that hearing, Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins sought an order to transfer blood samples, which Redd granted after Traylor’s then-public defender, Mary Rohrer, raised no objection, according to WDKZ.
At Friday’s sentencing hearing, Traylor’s attorney, Marc Wells, told the court that probation was not an option because of the offense and asked Redd to suspend fines associated with the lesser counts, WDKZ reported. Redd asked Traylor whether he wanted to address the court, but he declined.
Ovey-Wiggins told the court that the case involved the death of a very young child and had deeply affected the child’s family. She asked Redd to follow the plea agreement and impose a 20-year sentence.
Redd said he had reviewed Traylor’s pre-sentence investigation report and noted that Traylor was not eligible for probation or shock probation. The judge also said Traylor must serve 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, according to WDKZ.
Redd called the case a horrible tragedy and said he hoped the sentencing would provide some measure of closure, while acknowledging that complete closure might not be possible for those affected.
Redd then imposed the 20-year prison sentence and ordered Traylor into the custody of the Department of Corrections. He also agreed to suspend the fines associated with the two lesser counts.
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