This is a small town area. I actually used to live about three houses down from these people. When I read of something like this, it makes me all the more careful as a parent and never assume anything when it comes to your young children. If this happened to me, I would die that same day, I could not live with myself after.
Toddler hit by pickup dies
Man accidentally struck his 17-month-old daughter, who ran in front of the truck as he pulled out of his driveway in Central Point
CENTRAL POINT — A toddler died Saturday morning after being struck by a pickup driven by her father. The 17-month-old girl wandered into the street unnoticed by her father, Patrick Rogers, 50, who was pulling his Ford F-150 pickup out of the family's driveway to go pick up a boat, Central Point police Lt. Chuck Newell said. Investigators determined that the little girl ran in front of the truck, which was high enough that Rogers couldn't see her, Central Point police Detective Josh Moulin said. The investigation found no wrongdoing and no charges or citations will be filed, he said. "He had no idea she was there," Moulin said. "It's just a terrible tragedy." The accident in the 1000 block of Fairfield Avenue, Central Point, happened at around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Jackson County Fire District No. 3 and Mercy Flights responded and rushed the girl to Rogue Valley Medical Center, where she died, Newell said. Investigators closed the street in the quiet suburban area while they collected evidence at the scene as neighbors walked dogs and rode bikes along the broad streets. Detectives spent much of the day at the hospital interviewing family members. A Medford police chaplain was called to assist the family, which has a supportive network of extended family members in the area, ulin said.