Earlier this week a father driving a Jeep made a U-turn. Unfortunately, his 2-year-old son did not.
According to reports, the toddler, who was strapped inside his carseat, which was placed in the back of the Jeep, flew out of the vehicle when the dad executed the turn. Fortunately (or should I say miraculously), the little boy did not suffer life-threatening injuries, at least according to a fire battalion chief in Wisconsin, who happened to witness the entire incident unfold right before his eyes.
Chief Matt Haerter told local reporters that he saw the boy fly out of the Jeep and hit the pavement face down while still secured in his carseat.
Haerter says the toddler’s father was cruising down a city street in a raised Jeep 4×4, that didn’t have a top or doors. According to Haerter, the dad pulled out in front of him before making a U-turn across Seventh Avenue. As Haerter tells it the Jeep turned, but the 2-year-old boy and his carseat kept going straight–right out the side of the Jeep and face down on the pavement.
“The seat landed upside down so the child struck the pavement, versus the seat striking the pavement,” Haerter told local news reporters. “It certainly warranted aggressive medical treatment from paramedics.”
Reports say the boy suffered abrasions to his face and arms, but is expected to make a full recovery. Hospital workers say the boy is lucky to be alive.
As for the boy’s 26-year-old father, police say he was not arrested or ticketed. However, authorities say they want other parents to learn from the dad’s mistake. Haerter told reporters that the incident should serve as a powerful reminder to parents to take an extra moment to make sure their child’s carseat is installed properly.
My question: What parent drives around in a Jeep sans a top and doors with a toddler strapped in the backseat? This story reminds me of the brouhaha that erupted when Britney Spears sped around Malibu with her young sons riding in the backseat of her convertible.
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