An 18-month-old toddler was struck by a car in the driveway of a home in Escondido on Sunday, police confirmed.
The accident happened just after 11 a.m. in the 800 block of East Ohio Avenue.
Officer Michael Garcia with the Escondido Police Department told NBC 7 that the boy’s mother was backing a car out of a driveway and didn’t notice the toddler behind the vehicle.
Garcia said the child had been playing in the front yard with another adult who didn’t notice the boy had run towards the driveway.
The toddler was struck by the car and sustained serious head injuries, Garcia said.
Medics transported the boy to Palomar Hospital. From there, he was airlifted to Rady Children’s Hospital.
Garcia said the toddler was alert and conscious while being transported to the hospital. The child has a skull fracture and is expected to heal.
Garcia said the accident is under investigation, and mother and family of the child are extremely upset over the incident.
Garcia said the accident should serve as a warning to all parents.
“If you’re backing a car and you have small children around that are not in the car with you, make sure somebody has a hold of them. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, but they can be prevented,” he said.
