Toddler dies after mom accidentally struck him with car in Broward driveway, deputies say
A family is grieving the loss of a toddler who was hit and killed by an SUV in his own driveway Monday afternoon. The Broward Sheriff's Office confirmed the child's mother was behind the wheel.
BSO identified the victim as 1 1/2-year-old Wilson Mathias Jr.
"The truth is, I have no words," said Mari Cante, the toddler's aunt.
According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to reports of a traffic crash with injuries in the 100 block of Allen Road in West Park around 2 p.m.
According to authorities, his mother, Ericka Hernandez, was driving a white SUV out of the driveway of a West Park home when the child ran out of the house.
When they arrived, they said they found Mathias Jr. suffering from injuries after he was hit by the car.
Paramedics rushed the boy to Memorial Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
"At this time, this appears to be accidental," said Carey Codd, a spokesperson for the Broward Sheriff's Office. "Mother was driving her vehicle out of her driveway. Unbeknownst to her, her 1 1/2-year-old child had gotten out of the home and entered the path of the vehicle."
Family members said they are devastated by the loss.
"It's something very painful, something we're not prepared for mentally, it's something very hard," Cante said.
Cante, who is Hernandez's sister, said the mother is struggling to process the loss of her child.
"The only thing she says is that she wants her son back, and what can we do? We can't do anything," Cante said. "He was very beautiful, he was very hyper, he wasn't even 2 yet."
Loved ones have gathered at the home to support the family.
"Nobody expects these things, but only God has the answers, no one else," said Ludmir Escobar, a friend of the family. "This was totally an accident."
Experts say that new safety features in cars are not enough to keep children safe from them
Rachele Solomon, who oversees Safe Kids Broward County at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, noted that despite modern safety advancements, technology alone cannot prevent every tragedy.
"We want to encourage parents and caregivers to go back to some of the basics, and you may want to take a walk around your car and make sure there's no child or animal playing behind the vehicle or lane near the vehicle before you reverse," Solomon said.
Solomon added that most young children are simply not tall enough to be detected by safety features like backup cameras. Because of this, she says parents should heavily emphasize the inherent dangers that come with motor vehicles.
"I think cars are not toys," Solomon said. "We need to teach kids. They could be dangerous and they have to be aware. They have to hold their parents' hand and parents need to teach safety in and around cars from a very young age."
While the investigation into the incident remains ongoing, the Broward Sheriff's Office stated it is highly likely that no one will face criminal charges.