Infant run over by grandmother leaving the house, sheriff says
A young child had to be rescued from underneath a car tire after being run over by her grandmother – but is expected to survive.
The Anoka County Sheriff's Office said the girl, who is just shy of turning 1, was in the backyard of a home in Nowthen a little after noon Friday.
The mom stepped into the house briefly – during which the infant's grandmother came out and got into a car, heading to an appointment.
She didn't realize that the child had made her way toward the parked vehicle.
The grandmother got in and backed up, not realizing the girl was right there.
When deputies got to the scene, the infant was "still partially underneath the vehicle's tire." She was rescued and taken to HCMC, where the sheriff's office said she is expected to survive.
Alcohol isn't believed to be a factor, and the sheriff's office is investigating.
Backovers in the U.S.
The group Kids and Cars says more than 50 children in the U.S. are backed over by vehicles every week, with 1-year-olds the most predominant age.
In six out of every 10 cases a larger vehicle or truck is involved, and more than 70 percent of the time a family member of the child is behind the wheel.
Keepyourchildsafe.org says about 100 children die from backovers every year.
