A 1-year-old boy named Tucker died Wednesday night after chasing the family dog into traffic and getting struck by two vehicles, according to Daytona Beach police.The accident happened at around 8:21 p.m. on North Halifax Avenue near Plaza Boulevard. Investigators said the boy and the family dog were inside their home when the dog escaped. The child followed the dog into the road and was hit by two cars.He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.The drivers involved remained on the scene and are cooperating with the investigation, police said."I don’t want to hold anybody accountable for what they did or didn’t do last night," said William Rhodes, director of operations at Daytona Beach Police Department. "Obviously those of us who are parents we know that little kids are quick fast." Rhodes said the child’s father had been working on a sprinkler system in the yard at the time.Neighbors are heartbroken.“We would see all the time playing outside,” said Joshua McDermott, a neighbor. “It’s just crazy not being able to see him anymore.” Rhodes said there is no indication that speeding or distracted driving was involved. "Obviously it was a very traumatic and chaotic scene," Rhodes said.Many residents expressed concern about traffic safety, saying speeding is a common problem in the area.“If you stand out here at nighttime, you’ll just watch them race up and down the street,” McDermott said.Annie Dalrymple, another neighbor, called for speed bumps to be added. “There are some down the street—I think there should be one here for sure,” she said.Rhodes said police are open to adding more resources to the area if they receive speeding complaints."I used to walk my dog and the dog would come out and greet my dog and the kid would kind of run out of the car sometimes, but never more than halfway through the yard and the parents were always good about calling the dog and the kid and keeping an eye on them," said Garry Faile, who lives in the area. "I’m just shocked they got on the road. I really am." The investigation is ongoing."At this point, it just seems to be a very tragic accident that we are having to work through here, and help the family get through" Rhodes said.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —
A 1-year-old boy named Tucker died Wednesday night after chasing the family dog into traffic and getting struck by two vehicles, according to Daytona Beach police.
The accident happened at around 8:21 p.m. on North Halifax Avenue near Plaza Boulevard. Investigators said the boy and the family dog were inside their home when the dog escaped. The child followed the dog into the road and was hit by two cars.
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He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
The drivers involved remained on the scene and are cooperating with the investigation, police said.
"I don’t want to hold anybody accountable for what they did or didn’t do last night," said William Rhodes, director of operations at Daytona Beach Police Department. "Obviously those of us who are parents we know that little kids are quick [and] fast."
Rhodes said the child’s father had been working on a sprinkler system in the yard at the time.
Neighbors are heartbroken.
“We would see [the boy] all the time playing outside,” said Joshua McDermott, a neighbor. “It’s just crazy not being able to see him anymore.”
Rhodes said there is no indication that speeding or distracted driving was involved.
"Obviously it was a very traumatic and chaotic scene," Rhodes said.
Many residents expressed concern about traffic safety, saying speeding is a common problem in the area.
“If you stand out here at nighttime, you’ll just watch them race up and down the street,” McDermott said.
Annie Dalrymple, another neighbor, called for speed bumps to be added. “There are some down the street—I think there should be one here for sure,” she said.
Rhodes said police are open to adding more resources to the area if they receive speeding complaints.
"I used to walk my dog and the dog would come out and greet my dog and the kid would kind of run out of the car sometimes, but never more than halfway through the yard and the parents were always good about calling the dog and the kid and keeping an eye on them," said Garry Faile, who lives in the area. "I’m just shocked they got on the road. I really am."
The investigation is ongoing.
"At this point, it just seems to be a very tragic accident that we are having to work through here, and help the family get through" Rhodes said.
