Toddler Killed in Pedestrian Accident
At 3:30 in the morning, where do you expect your toddler child to be? Most parents would say, sleeping in their bed. Unfortunately, that was not the case for parents in Town ‘N’ Country, whose 3-year-old boy escaped their apartment at that time in the morning. Sadly, the boy was hit by a car and killed.
The fatal accident occurred on the morning of July 6 on Sheldon Road near Brennan Circle. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a toddler hit by a car. The 911 caller was on his way home from work when he hit something in the road. He turned around to see what it was and realized it was a child.
The boy was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he later died. The northbound lanes of Sheldon Road were closed from Mayflower Road to Fountain Avenue.
Deputies worked to find the parents. Within an hour, they found an open door at Valencia Apartments and saw the parents frantically looking for their child.”
The driver remained at the accident scene and is cooperating with the investigation. At this time, the driver nor the parents are facing any criminal charges. There were no signs of wrongdoing on the driver’s part. The man was not speeding or impaired.
This is an active investigation. The sheriff’s office is working to determine how the child got out of the apartment and onto the road.
The sheriff’s office considers the toddler’s death a heartbreaking tragedy and does not want to blame anyone for what happened. However, they offer advice for parents of young children.
Parents of small children are encouraged to evaluate their child’s abilities and take the proper steps to secure their homes. They should never make assumptions; toddlers are very smart and curious and will often go to great lengths to get out of a room or other enclosure.
Does your child have the ability to reach the doorknob? Can they reach the lock to unlock it? If so, you may need to add a second lock to your door. Consider putting on those devices on the doorknob that make it hard for a child to open.
Seeing your young child leave the home by themselves without a parent in the middle of the night is every parent’s worst nightmare. Take the time to assess your home and keep your child safe.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today
Pedestrian crashes are hardly ever minor. Drivers do not usually expect children to be out on the roadways at night, but sadly, these situations do happen and they do not always end well.
Pedestrian accidents are dangerous and scary, and it doesn’t help that Florida is the worst state for these crashes. Get the help you need from a Tampa pedestrian accident attorney from Moore Law. Schedule a free consultation with our office today by calling 813-510-5400 or filling out the online form.
Source:
teamhcso.com/News/PressRelease/c3d266a5-e109-41df-9a57-cdf7b4e9a2ea/en-US
