Family believes DUI caused death of 5-year-old boy

SEATTLE -- The family of a 5 year old involved in a serious crash in Auburn early Sunday morning says they will take the boy off life support after donating his organs.

They are still grieving the loss of their loved one, but they hope this accident will shine a light on the tragedy of driving under the influence with children in the car.

Five-year-old Stacey Izaac Holmes spent the Christmas holiday with his father’s family.

“We had the best last days in the world with him,” says Tracey Holmes Senior, the boy’s grandfather. “We had fun the whole time he was there, running back and forth, eating candy, eating cake.”

Saturday, they returned the boy to his mother. Hours later, they got a call to come to Harborview.

“On the way down from Enumclaw, there was a roadblock. We did not know at the time that was the accident.”

Stacey had been in the car with his mother’s 21 year old boyfriend, when he lost control and slammed into a tree in Auburn. Police say based on the damage, they were going at a very high rate of speed. They plan on charging the driver with vehicular homicide when he’s released from the hospital.

“I think it should be vehicular homicide,” says Eva Lopez, the boy’s aunt.

Police are still investigating whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in this crash.

But family members say they hope that’s the message that comes out of this tragedy.

“If you know you're going to go out and drink or do drugs or any type of stupid thing, don't take children with you,” says Lopez.

“If anybody is getting behind the wheel and has even one drink, that’s all it takes in most cases,” says Holmes. “If you want to take your own life, that’s fine. Don’t take any kids, don’t take anybody else with you.”

The family has started a fund to help with memorial costs. If you’d like to help with that, you can go to http://www.gofundme.com/staceyizaacholmes