The 35-year-old Hyatsville, MD driver had put her daughter in the back seat of her 2013 Toyota Highlander unrestrained before the Sunday, June 12 crash around 1:15 p.m. in Woodbridge, Prince William County police said.
The mom and daughter were visiting family members on Flotilla Way and was only driving a short distance away to a dumpster, before driving back to the 16600 block where they stopped briefly to pick up additional family members, PWC police said.
When one of the family members opened the rear door to the vehicle, the unrestrained child fell from the vehicle and onto the roadway. The driver immediately got out of the vehicle to check on the child.
The vehicle’s transmission was still in drive when the driver got out of the car, causing it to roll forward where it then struck the child, police said. The child sustained a serious head injury and was transported to the hospital by the mother where police were notified.
The child died as a result of her injuries later in the day. No other injuries were reported.
Due to a change in Virginia law, the identity of the child is not being disclosed. No charges have been placed against the driver at this time. The investigation continues.
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