News Tribune Article

From a neighbor...

A sad reminder that tragedy can occur anywhere, even in the driveway at slow speed:

Parkland Girl, 4, Killed By SUV Pulling Into Garage, by Stacey Mulick, The News Tribune

A 4-year-old girl was killed Friday when she rode her bicycle in front of an SUV pulling into the garage of a home on 115th Street East in Parkland. The girl, whose name was not released, was declared dead when she arrived at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said. The accident happened about noon in the 600 block of 115th Street East. The SUV driver was pulling into his garage and stopped for a group of kids from the neighborhood riding their bikes past him, Troyer said. When he thought all the children had passed, the driver pulled forward and hit the 4-year-old. The driver apparently didn’t see the child because of her height and because she was riding in the gutter along the sidewalk. “It appears to be a tragic accident,” Troyer said. Bystanders started CPR on the girl, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, Troyer said. She suffered severe injuries and head trauma, Central Pierce Fire & Rescue reported. A chaplain responded, and deputies interviewed the driver and other witnesses. The driver, who was distraught, was not cited. “There was no intent, no reckless driving,” Troyer said. The investigation was continuing.