Steve Lieberman

slieberm@lohud.com

Spring Valley toddler hit by car%2C killed near Rose Ave. home

The 20-month-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene

Driver%2C parents at the scene%2C mom take to hospital%2C in shock

An 18-month-old boy was killed Friday morning after he was hit by a hit by a car near his family%27s Rose Avenue home%2C officials said.

SPRING VALLEY A 20-month-old boy left in the care of an older sibling was killed Friday morning when he was hit by a pickup truck in the parking lot of his family's Rose Avenue apartment complex.

The child, whose identity has not been released, was pronounced dead at Lotti Gardens after being crushed by a white 2007 Ford F-150 truck at about 8:32 a.m. The truck had been backing up in the parking lot at 38 Rose Ave, police and neighbors said.

The driver, a 33-year-old Pomona man, apparently didn't see the small boy.

No charges have been filed against the driver as the investigation continues, Spring Valley police said. He was questioned and examined by the department's drug recognition expert before being released.

The baby's death saddened residents of the complex, some of whom gave voice to anger and frustration over what had happened.

Letha Vaught, a neighbor, said the baby's mother – who had been running an errand – returned to the scene, picked up her dead child and cradled him in her arms, crying hysterically.

"My heart goes out to the mother and her baby," Vaught said.

The mother was later taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for observation and treatment. The baby's father rushed home from work, neighbors said.

Several neighbors said the toddler had been left with older brothers and sisters while the mother walked to a nearby deli.

Vaught and other neighbors said the baby should have been watched by an adult.

"The mother should have been out there with the child," said Gwenelle Lindsey, 67, a longtime village resident. "It's a sin and a half. It doesn't make any sense."

Another neighbor, Leonel Morales, sympathized with the mother, who he said made a quick trip to the deli and came home to tragedy.

Morales, a landscaper, noting that the apartment complex is home to a large number of children, and, "People should be more careful driving through the parking lot."

Lindsey said the boy killed and other children play in the alleys and on the paved parking lot because there is no playground in the complex or along Rose Avenue.

The parking lot sits between two sets of two-story buildings. Neighbors recalled seeing the boy who died being pushed around the area in riding toys by his parents. Small plastic riding toys could be seen scattered around the working-class housing.

Spring Valley Police Sgt. Chris Korba said the names of the driver and child would be released at the conclusion of the police investigation.

The Clarkstown Accident Reconstruction Team took measurements of the truck and at the scene to try to estimate the truck's speed and other details. The police also impounded the truck for a safety check.

Korba said police detectives interviewed the driver and his two passengers, and no charges have been filed at this time. Detectives also interviewed the baby's parents and witnesses at Lotti Gardens.

At least 50 children are backed over by vehicles every week in the United States with at least two children killed in that time period, according to the advocacy website KidsandCars.org.

The most common age of the victims was between 12 and 23 months old; in 70 percent of the incidents the vehicle involved was a truck, SUV or van.

The Spring Valley Police Department requests that anyone who has information regarding this incident or may have witnessed the incident contact Detective Kimberly Gray or Detective Kevin Halligan at 845-356-7400.

Staff Writers Jane Lerner and Richard Liebson contributed to this report.

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