Foster Mom Runs Over 5-Year-Old Boy, Accidentally Kills Him

KEY POINTS

An Ohio foster mother was backing out of her driveway when she accidentally ran over the 5-year-old child Wednesday
She was not aware the child was riding a bicycle behind her vehicle at the time, police said
No charges were announced, but police said the incident will be reviewed by state prosecutors

A 5-year-old boy in Guernsey County, Ohio, has died after he was accidentally run over by his foster mother in the driveway of their home, police said Wednesday.

Deputies, medics and members of the Cassell Station and New Concord fire departments responded to a report of a child being struck by a vehicle at Hill High Road, Cambridge, at approximately 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Guernsey County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Police, arriving after medical personnel, interviewed residents and discovered that the foster mother of the child was backing out of her driveway and was oblivious to the boy riding his bicycle behind her car, causing her to strike and run over the child.

According to police, the mother exited her vehicle after accidentally hitting the child and found the boy unresponsive. She then called 911 and attempted to perform CPR on the child.

A MedFlight helicopter was summoned, but it was later diverted after medical personnel determined they would transport the child to Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Members of orphan assistance organization Haven of Hope were called to the hospital to assist the mother.

Lieutenant Sam Williams described the incident as a "horrible tragedy." He also said that the case will be reviewed by Guernsey County Prosecutor Lindsey Donahue-Angler following standard procedure.

Authorities did not reveal any charges over the child's death.

A similar incident happened in March when a teenager from Von Army, Texas, accidentally ran over a 2-year-old child, killing her in the process.

The child, identified as Itsel Garcia-Hernandez, was playing in the front yard of her home when the unidentified 18-year-old family member backed up their vehicle and accidentally ran over the toddler.

She was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to police, the family member responsible for the accident was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. He was not charged for the death.

Hours before the incident, Garcia-Hernandez's mother, Maria Hernandez-Gomez, was taken into custody for a separate case involving her allegedly making a false police report in 2017.