INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis day care owner was cited following a deadly crash that killed a young father and his 1-year old sonon Pendleton Pike on March 8, and injured several other children.
Robert Valentine III and his son, Robert Valentine IV, died after their van crashed into a pickup truck.
Records show Valentine III picked up a day care worker and a child who attended the Bel Air Drive child care home on March 8.
Valentine IV did not attend the day care and Valentine III was not employed with the day care.
Records obtained by Call 6 Investigates show the Family and Social Services Administration revoked Walletta Priego’s child care home license on Bel Air Drive following the crash. The state cited Priego for failing to report the wreck to FSSA, as is required by law.
FSSA also cited Priego because the van was not properly registered or insured and was, “driven by an unqualified caregiver.”
Police determined 1-year old Valentine’s car seat was improperly installed, and the inappropriate size car seat for the baby's size and weight.
In addition, police said a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old were unrestrained in the back seat of the van. A 2-year-old was unrestrained in the center row.
The three children and the day care worker survived their injuries.
The law says children attending a licensed child care must be transported by a licensed driver in an insured vehicle, the children must be properly restrained, and the caregiver must get written permission to transport the child away from the day care.
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"One of the children did not have a transportation permission authorization signed by the parent," read the FSSA document.
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It’s not clear what Valentine’s connection was with the day care.
Following the crash, FSSA inspected the day care and found Priego watching 14 children and not following the proper staff to child ratios.
The Bel Air Drive day care closed on April 22, according to FSSA spokesperson Marni Lemons.
Priego did not appeal the state’s revocation, and voluntarily closed another child care home location as well on April 22.
Call 6 Investigates could not reach Priego for comment.
How do you find quality, affordable child care in Indiana? Watch as Kara Kenney talks with mom and child care expert Lacey Kottkamp in the video player below.
