Sean Garinger’s mother Mary Hobbs has revealed that her family has decided to keep the ATV that caused the 20-year-old’s tragic death – because they believe it will ‘help them to feel closer to him’.
Sean, 20, who featured on MTV’s 16 and Pregnant, was killed on February 27 when a side-by-side ATV he had attempted to move in front of his home in Boone, North Carolina, flipped and landed on top of him.
Speaking to DailyMail.com about how she has been processing the heartbreaking loss of her son, the 40-year-old explained that she had initially wanted the police to get rid of the ATV that she saw take the life of her child.
‘The police said, “What do you want us to do with the side by side?” I was like, “Get rid of it. I can’t look at it. Give it away”, the devastated mom recalled.
However, she was convinced to change her mind after being reminded that Sean used to love riding the vehicle.
16 and Pregnant personality Sean Garinger tragically died February 28 in an ATV accident at the age of 20 in Boone, North Carolina
His heartbroken mother Mary Hobbs has explained that her family convinced her to keep the ATV that caused his fatal accident
She continued: ‘But when I was with friends and family, we’ve talked about it and Sean’s oldest sister said she wants us to keep it because she feels like it’ll help us feel a little bit closer to him since he loved being on it all the time.’
Mary and her son had been returning home to do complete some tasks before buying the young father a car so he could visit his two daughters – whom he shared with ex Selena Gutierrez.
When Sean tried to drive the ATV to another spot so his mother could park, the vehicle landed on top of him and careened off of an embankment.
His mother Mary witnessed the accident which ‘crushed’ his skull. She ‘laid next to’ him on the ground before the first responders arrived.
Mary lamented on how to help Sean’s daughters Dareli, three, and Esmi, 19 months, understand what has happened to their father as she explained: ‘I feel like it’s impossible to help the girls understand what has happened.
‘I just know that he loved them so much and I’m going to do whatever I can to set them up.’
She continued: ‘My sister had created a GoFundMe for him cover funeral but we’re just gonna put it towards a fund for his daughters to make sure that they’re good.’
The heartbroken mother thanked fans for the outpouring of love since Sean’s death was revealed as she added: ‘It’s been overwhelming.’
As revealed in an obituary posted by Austin & Barnes Funeral Home, Sean was ‘known affectionately as “Squishy,”‘ and was a ‘military brat who touched lives all around the country.’
Mary was convinced to change her mind after being reminded that Sean used to love riding the vehicle – the memorial set up at the place of Sean’s death is pictured
Mary lamented on how to help Sean’s daughters Dareli, three, and Esmi, 19 months, understand what has happened to their father
Mary told DailyMail.com: ‘My sister had created a GoFundMe for him cover funeral but we’re just gonna put it towards a fund for his daughters to make sure that they’re good’
It read: ‘He never knew a stranger, regardless of age, and was always willing to lend a helping hand. His kind and generous nature endeared him to all who knew him.’
The obituary noted that Sean ‘had a passion for living life to the fullest’ and said ‘his adventurous spirit and love for excitement were evident in all aspects of his life.
‘He enjoyed driving RC cars, sky diving, shark diving, dirt bikes, flying his drone, driving ATVs, surfing, and spending time in the ocean.’
The late TV star and his ex featured on the sixth season of 16 and Pregnant, which documented their journey to becoming first time parents back in 2020.
Their struggles also featured on the reality show, with Selena accusing Sean of cheating on her while she was pregnant.
They also got into a fight that lead to Selena allegedly getting arrested.
But despite their tumultuous time together, the mother-of-two told DailyMail.com that she has been ‘crushed’ by the news and is also struggling with how to tell their young daughters.
‘No matter the circumstances that was my kids’ father,’ she stated. ‘Not only was I with him for nine plus years, he was my first love, my first everything and we had two beautiful daughters that I’ll always be grateful for.
‘They didn’t deserve this they need their daddy. I don’t know how I’m going to tell them when they get older.’
Sean and his ex Selena Gutierrez., both 20, had featured on the sixth season of 16 and Pregnant, which documented their journey as first time parents
The young dad had been taking steps to buy a new car so he could visit his two daughters more often
Both Mary and Selena confirmed that Sean had been over 200 days sober and had been ‘so happy’ to start spending more time with his kids
Selena’s older sister Thalia, 25, also paid tribute to Sean, saying her ‘heart will forever break’ for her nieces, who will only know their dad through ‘pictures and videos.’
‘Sean’s loss was very sudden and tragic,’ she told DailyMail.com. ‘The last few months of his life he was trying to better himself for my nieces. It’s really sad to see that his life was cut short.
She continued: ‘My condolences go out to his family especially his mother. As for my nieces, my heart will forever break for them. They never really got the chance to know their dad. All they have left are pictures and videos of him.’
Both Mary and Selena confirmed that Sean had been over 200 days sober and had been ‘so happy’ to start spending more time with his two young daughters.
Mary explained that her son had been taking important steps to get his life and career in order as she stated: ‘He was 232 days sober and he was happy. He had enrolled in welding school because he’s wanted to be a welder like since he was a little kid.
‘We were going to buy him a new car that day… He was so excited to go pick up his girls in the car we picked out.
‘He had already planned out which car seat he wanted… he was just starting to thrive again.’
Sean is survived by daughters, Dareli and Esmi, mother Mary and sisters Shania, Lydia, Isabella, Ember, Kayden, and Casslyn, according to the obituary.
