TRAGIC LOSS
16 and Pregnant star Selena Gutierrez’s ex Sean Garinger dead at 20 after horrific ATV accident in North Carolina
The reality star's sudden death came shortly after he spent time with his ex and two kids in Colorado
16 and Pregnant star Selena Gutierrez's ex Sean Garinger has died after an ATV accident in North Carolina, The U.S. Sun can exclusively confirm.
Sean, 20, the father of Selena's two children, passed away on February 28 at his home in Boone.
5
5
His mom, Mary Hobbs, confirmed the tragic news to The U.S. Sun.
"I was with him when it happened. He was just moving [the ATV] from one parking spot to the next for me, so I could back into park," she recounted.
"He pulled [in] front of me to park the ATV and the ground gave way from all the rain and mud."
She went on to say that the ATV flipped and "crushed" his skull.
Read More on 16 & Pregnant
"I ran to neighbors trying to get someone to help me get the ATV off of him. No one answered. I ran back to him," she continued.
"By that time, I realized he wasn't alive anymore."
Mary, 40, shared, "I just laid next to him until the ambulance showed up."
The mother and son had just gotten home from the car dealership prior to the ATV incident.
Most read in Celebrity
The plan was to buy a car so that Sean could drive to see his girls in Colorado where Selena is living, but they "never made it back to the dealership," his mom added.
Teen Mom Kailyn Lowry undergoes surgery just months after giving birth to twins and shares first photo
UNBREAKABLE BOND
"There was a huge part of my heart that died with my son on Wednesday," Mary told The U.S. Sun.
"He was my only son, my rock, my strength when I had none left.
"We loved spontaneously jumping in the car for a road trip or a beach sesh."
"We bonded over music, fast cars and shooting guns and taking new adventures," she continued.
"Sean brightened my world in a way no one else could ever come close to. He was my baby boy, my squishy, my heartbeat."
The Watauga County Sheriff's Office, Boone Fire Department, and Watauga Medics responded to the accident.
The U.S. Sun reached out to the Watauga County Sheriff's Office, who did not immediately return request for comment.
Local news outlets reported the accident claimed the life of the individual operating the ATV, but did not release the name of the victim.
In a statement that was released to local media, the Watauga County Sheriff's Office stated, "Our hearts are heavy with sorrow for the loss experienced by the family and loved ones of the victim."
PAST STRUGGLES
Selena, 20, starred on MTV's 16 and Pregnant season 6B.
She welcomed a daughter Dareli in October 2020 and another daughter Esmi in June 2022, and Sean is the father of both kids.
"Sean's nickname growing up was squishy too. Esmi is his mini squishy," Mary told The U.S. Sun.
The former couple's struggles played out on the show when Selena claimed Sean cheated on her while she was pregnant with their first child.
The pair also got into a fight that lead to Selena allegedly getting arrested as Sean and family members looked on.
According to a family insider, both Selena and Sean were dating other people at the time of his death.
FINAL REUNION
Still shocked by what had happened, a family insider told The U.S. Sun that the exes have been separated over the last year and had both moved on.
They were living in separate states - Sean in Boone, North Carolina with his mom and Selena in Fountain, Colorado with her mom, Michelle Guiterrez.
"Sean got close to Selena's family these past few months - his mom and Selena's mom, and Sean and Selena's brother Ricky," the source shared.
"Sean visited Selena's family literally a week before his death because he came to Colorado to visit his daughters."
The family insider said that Selena is "not in a good place" following the news of Sean's death.
The U.S. Sun has attempted to reach Selena for comment.
'LIFE ON TRACK'
Sean was getting his life on track, according to the source.
He was back in school and pursuing welding.
"He wanted to finish school. He was doing well," the source said.
"And the plan was that he was going to come for the girls and they were going to go spend some time over there in North Carolina."
Sean was not active on social media prior to his death. His Instagram had recently been deactivated.
Read More on The US Sun
A service to honor Sean's life will be held on March 2, according to his obituary.
In lieu of flowers, his family is requesting contributions be made to any homeless shelter in memory of Sean "Squishy" Tai Garinger.
5
5
5