Toddler Fatally Hit by Vehicle in Town ‘N’ Country, Florida
In a tragic incident, a toddler was killed after being hit by a vehicle in Town ‘N’ Country, Florida, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning on Sheldon Road near Brennan Circle.
Authorities received a distressing 911 call just before 3 a.m., informing them about the toddler being hit by a vehicle in the northbound lanes. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found a 3-year-old in the roadway. The child was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital but succumbed to their injuries.
The driver responsible for the accident was returning home from work at the time of the collision. According to investigators, the driver didn’t display any signs of impairment or wrongdoing. He initially felt the impact but could not see anything in the road. It was only after turning his vehicle around that he discovered he had hit the toddler.
As authorities began to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, they questioned why the child was outside at such an hour and where the parents were. Less than an hour later, investigators found an open door at the Valencia Apartments, which were located a quarter of a mile away from the crash site. Inside the apartment, deputies found the child’s parents, who were frantically searching for their young one.
Amanda Granit, chief communications officer with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, expressed condolences for the grieving parents. She said, “You can imagine the heartbreak and the nightmare these parents were living in. At 3:30 in the morning, there is no place that a child should be and no place that a parent expects a child to be other than safe and inside their bed. Unfortunately, these parents received the heartbreaking news that their child had passed away at the hospital.”
As of now, no charges have been filed against the parents or the driver. The investigation is ongoing, particularly focusing on how the child managed to leave the home unattended. Sheriff Chad Chronister highlighted the heavily populated nature of the area, emphasizing the urgency with which the deputies located the child’s parents.
Due to Marsy’s Law, the gender of the child is being withheld from public disclosure. The northbound lanes of Sheldon Road from Mayflower Road to Fountain Avenue were temporarily closed for investigation.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.