Police dashcam captures moment child is ejected from truck during crash
Dashcam video from Gwinnett County Police captured a devastating three-vehicle crash on May 23, including the extraordinary moment a 7-year-old boy was thrown from a truck and landed on a police cruiser. Officer Arianna James, who saw the collision unfold, recalled racing to help the child and trying to calm him as he worried his father would leave without him. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical role vehicle safety measures play in protecting children.
In Florida, authorities said a 23-month-old boy was found dead Monday inside an SUV parked outside A World of Discovery Academy after his father mistakenly thought he had already taken the child into daycare.
Plantation police and fire rescue crews were called to the early childhood education center at about 5:39 p.m. Monday following a report of an unresponsive child inside a vehicle.
Firefighters declared the toddler dead at the scene.
Leslie Novoa, owner of A World of Discovery Academy, told WSVN-TV that she and the child’s father called 911 after the boy was found in the back seat of the family’s SUV.
Authorities said a 23-month-old boy was discovered dead inside an SUV outside A World of Discovery Academy in Plantation, Florida. (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.”
According to Novoa, the father came to the daycare to pick up his son and only then realized the toddler had never been dropped off that morning.
“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.”
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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.
