kiwi toddler survives being run over by utility truck...
February 13th 2010 23:42
Kiwi Toddler survives being run over by utility truck...
A three-year-old boy had a miraculous escape after being dragged under a runaway ute in South Taranaki yesterday.
The toddler received chest and facial injuries in the accident, which happened about 5pm on Rama Rd, near Manaia.
Constable Glenn Davy said the ute had been parked in the driveway when the young boy got in.
"He's climbed into the ute and knocked the hand brake and it's started rolling backwards," Mr Davy said.
It was not known if the boy then fell from the ute or jumped out, but the right front wheel ran over his head and torso. Mr Davy said the boy's mother heard him screaming and went to his aid.
The boy was treated by TDHB paramedics at the scene before being flown to Taranaki Base Hospital, along with his mother, by the Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter.
Mr Davy warned parents to make sure young children were not able to get inside vehicles when they were not around.
In the two months to December last year four children were run over in driveways. A South Auckland toddler died and her mother sustained life-threatening injuries after they were struck by a vehicle in the driveway on December 21.
Statistics show every two weeks a child is hospitalised with serious injuries from a vehicle driving on a private driveway.
On average, four children were killed each year in the same way.
Owners should make sure their vehicles are locked when not being used. Especially with young children on the property.
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