Toddler dies after driver accidentally backs over him

Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 | 2:30 a.m.

Fatal accident

A man accidentally ran over a toddler boy Sunday night in an east valley neighborhood after the boy entered the path of a car being moved to a residential street.

Metro Police responded at 9:07 p.m. to the incident on East Pelham Court west of North Sacramento Drive. That location is south of Stewart Avenue and west of Lamb Boulevard, or about a mile northeast of the U.S. 95/East Charleston Boulevard interchange.

Authorities said the 22-month-old boy had followed the driver out of a home as he was going to move a 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe onto Pelham Court. The boy had walked down the driveway and entered the Tahoe's path as the driver, 22-year-old Manuel Bermudez, was backing onto the roadway, police said.

The boy was run over by one of the vehicle's rear tires and was pronounced dead at the scene. His name wasn't being released early Monday.

The Metro Police Accident Investigation Section is investigating. This is the 76th traffic fatality this year in Metro Police jurisdiction.

Discussion: 13 comments so far…

By rejco100

11/2/09 at 6:49 a.m.

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How sad, little kids will do that. Now the 22 y/o guy's life will be destroyed by the cops & legal system!
By mk1234

11/2/09 at 6:55 a.m.

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this article will goes to show how important it is that you watch your children no matter what,if you have a small child like this how does he get out the front door without an adult knowing about it.When you walk outside your home you should turn and make sure they can't follow,sounds like he was a little lax on his parenting skills,although it may be an accident he is still responsible for that child.
By vegasguy11

11/2/09 at 8:47 a.m.

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This is too bad. I feel sorry for everyone involved.
By David1961

11/2/09 at 9:52 a.m.

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A 22 year old accidentally ran over a 22 month old,...
To me that is mildly spooky......
By nwvisitor

11/2/09 at 12:27 p.m.

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This happened to someone I know several years ago - how horrible. Everyone with little kids has had them get away from them for a moment, but sometimes I can't believe how many unsupervised 2 and 3 year olds I see.
By dt0702

11/2/09 at 1:11 p.m.

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Where was the mother in all of this ? why wasn't she aware of where her son was ? now the guilt sets in, as tragic as this was ..
By environprotector

11/3/09 at 6:53 a.m.

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We hear about this type of tragedy all the time, and really what it comes down to as is well serviced in comments above here, PARENTS WATCH YOUR TODDLER EVERY SECOND! THEY DON"T UNDERSTAND DANGER YET!!!
By Rocco

11/3/09 at 2:59 p.m.

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my god....watch your kids 1 second and they are gone out of your sight,,poor parents
By lunasheart

11/3/09 at 10:36 p.m.

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rejco100, who the hell cares that the guys life is destroyed. The baby is gone, do you care one second for his HUGE loss? I hope Metro and the legal system makes him an example. It only takes a second or a blink of an eye to destroy the future of many people. This family may have loved the boy, but not enough!! There is no such thing as watching your children to closely. Get a hint young or old mothers & fathers alike. The prosecutions of people that are negligence in caring for children will stop a lot of this crap and save a lot of futures and children.