Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins says the incident occurred at North Main and West Chance in Lumberton at around 6 p.m.
LUMBERTON, Texas — A 21-month-old boy is in the the hospital after he fell out of a moving car and onto an intersection while still strapped into his car seat.
Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins says the incident occurred at North Main and West Chance in Lumberton at around 6 p.m.
A 22-year-old woman was driving three children northbound when she got into a turning lane and began to turn down West Chance. That’s when the cars back passenger door flew open and the baby, still in his car seat, fell out of the car and onto the busy intersection according to Chief Sullins.
Luckily a good Samaritan stopped behind the car, got out of their vehicle and brought the child into a nearby parking lot, where they were later met by Lumberton officers and first responders.
Lumberton EMS quickly transported the child to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont as a priority one patient after discovering he hit his head in the fall.
Chief Sullins says not only was the car-seat not properly secured, but neither were the other two young children in the car.
“There was three kids in the backseat, a 1-year-old, the 21-month-old and a 3-year-old, none of them were properly secured,” said Chief Sullins
The Lumberton Police Department has notified Child Protective Services as is standard procedure, and says the department is currently investigating the situation “from all angles”.
Chief Sullins went on and told 12News this situation was completely preventable.
“That’s hard on first responders, you know, you get there and see a child. This should not have happened, period. That the car seat was not put in properly. Neither were the other two devices that this woman was using,” said Chief Sullins. “But anyway, we’re our main focus now is a for that child’s recovery, and detectives will be looking into it further.”
The child is still recovering at St. Elizabeth Hospital, and his condition is currently unknown.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.