Police dashcam captures moment child is ejected from truck during crash
In a heart-stopping moment caught on Gwinnett County Police dashcam footage, a terrifying three-car crash on May 23 resulted in a 7-year-old boy being flung from a truck, landing atop a police cruiser. Officer Arianna James, who witnessed the collision, described how she immediately rushed to comfort the child, who was understandably anxious about being abandoned by his father. This alarming occurrence stresses the critical need for stringent child safety measures in vehicles.
Tragedy struck in Florida on Monday when a 23-month-old boy was discovered dead inside an SUV parked outside A World of Discovery Academy. Authorities shared that the boy’s father, mistakenly believing he had dropped the toddler off at daycare, left him in the vehicle.
Responding to this tragic incident around 5:39 p.m. on Monday, both the Plantation Police Department and the Plantation Fire Department descended on the early childhood education center following a call about an unresponsive child left in a vehicle.
Upon arrival, firefighters could do no more than confirm the heart-rending news that the child had died at the scene.
Leslie Novoa, the proprietor of A World of Discovery Academy, told WSVN-TV that she and the toddler’s father made the desperate call to 911 after the child was tragically found in the backseat of the family SUV.
A 23-month-old boy was found dead inside an SUV outside A World of Discovery Academy in Plantation, Florida, authorities said. (Bernd Weißbrod/picture alliance via Getty Images)
“This is hard for the parents, hard for us,” Novoa told the station. “This is sad to see this family – a wonderful family – to go through so much pain.”
Novoa said the father arrived at the daycare to pick up his son before realizing the child had never been dropped off.
“Unfortunately, the dad arrived to pick up his child, and when he arrived to the parking lot, he realized he forgot the child,” she said. “He never dropped off the child at the school.”
Authorities are investigating after a 23-month-old child was found dead outside A World of Discovery Academy in Plantation, Florida. (Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Novoa said she has known the family for six years and described them as loving parents whose three children attended the daycare.
“Like I said before, they’re a very loving family, and unfortunately, this happened,” Novoa said.
The daycare later released a statement expressing condolences and pledging support for the family.
Emergency crews responded to a Plantation daycare after a toddler was found unresponsive inside an SUV, authorities said. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
“Our primary responsibility is the safety and well-being of our students and their families,” the daycare wrote.
“We communicated with our school community as soon as possible, and we remain in contact with our families to provide support during this incredibly difficult time,” it continued. “This student and their family are beloved members of our community. At this time, our focus is on supporting those grieving this immense loss.”
According to Kids and Car Safety, formerly KidsAndCars.org, about 40 children die in hot cars each year in the United States. The organization says roughly half of those deaths occur after a parent or caregiver unintentionally leaves a child inside a vehicle.
Plantation police said the circumstances surrounding the child’s death remain under investigation.