Second child dies from freeway crashBy Noah Haglund (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, May 9, 2008
An 18-month-old toddler died from head injuries this morning, a day after a freeway crash that killed his 3 1/2-year-old sister, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said. Juan Garcia-Carbajal died at Medical University Hospital around 5 a.m., Deputy Coroner Kelly Myers said. Ana Garcia-Millan died at the hospital Thursday afternoon. The children were injured around 1:45 p.m. Thursday when something went wrong with a tire on a 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass their grandmother was driving. The car was going east on Interstate 26 between U.S. Highway 78 and Ashley Phosphate Road. It slammed into tree, throwing both children from the car. The Charleston County Sheriffs' Office identified the grandmother as 42-year-old Maria C. Millan-Frausto of Ladson. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries, sheriff's Maj. John Clark said. The children's mother, 22-year-old Veronica Garcia-Millan, was in the car as a front-seat passenger, Clark said. Medical University Hospital reported that she was seen in the emergency room, but not admitted. She and her children lived in the Plantation Acres Mobile Home Park on U.S. Highway 78. Clark said crash investigators will reconstruct the accident to answer important questions: whether the children were properly placed in car seats, whether the car seats worked as they should, and whether there was a mechanical failure with the car. Reach Noah Haglund at 937-5550 or nhaglund@postandcourier.com |
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Comments
This article has 10 comment(s)
Posted by sbs920 on May 9, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is such a sad and tragic event that could have been prevented with proper child seat restraints. . .
Save a Life. . . Buckle Up !
Posted by prosperous_hb on May 9, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is such a tragedy, especially on Mother's day weekend. My prayers go out for this family.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 9, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with your post Prosperous....
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on May 9, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm probably gonna get crap for this but...This story not only breaks my heart,but I am absolutely FURIOUS!I have seen so many times these people that have young kids crawling all over the damn car,babies on laps,while they're driving.And get this-usually the parents are buckled up!This was 110% preventable and I hope charges are filed.There is no way in hell they were properly restrained.I am very sorry for their loss,I truly am.But on the flip side I'm ticked.It's one thing for adults to decide to buckle up or not.But you are supposed to be an advocate for your child,they don't yet have a voice.This makes me literally sick to my stomach.
Posted by christinader on May 9, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If people like it or not so what. It needs to be said. Buckle these children in their properly installed car seats. If you cannot afford one there are numerous organizations that provide them for free. These children cannot do this for themselves. Let this unfortunate accident (if you can call it an accident) be a reminder to take care of kids and buckle them up! I pray for the family and hug my kids even tighter today!!!!!!!
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 9, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Were these children not buckled up in seat belts or infant seats? What a sad and tragic lesson to learn.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on May 9, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nope from reports they were ejected.
Posted by jca on May 9, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this is sad and horrific not one but both babies died because of their parents stupidity and negligence. if this mother has other kids the state should take them.
kids under 6 have to be in a carseat
birth to one year a rear facing seat or infant carrier with base one year and 20lbs
from 1-4 forward facing with a five point harness in my opinion should be until age 5
4 and up a booster backed or backless
6 and up in the back seat with a seat belt
Posted by kerwin1959 on May 10, 2008 at 12:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree wholeheartedly. This is a sad, sad event; yet totally preventable. It will be interesting to see what happened to the tire --- other than no tread, improperly installed, overall poor maintenance. If you can't afford to maintain your car and keep yourself(and others on the road) safe, you shouldn't be allowed to own a car. Period.
Could a $50 tire and two car seats have prevented this? More than likely. These two women will mourn every minute until their own deaths.
Most of us remember the yearly inspections that were formerly required by the DMV. The cost and time it took for auto repair shops to go through the checklist was a farce, but if properly monitored, would it have prevented this(and many other) fatalities? I'd love to see the statistics.
I hope the children never felt pain. I would hate to think they were conscious after they were ejected. So heartbreaking.
Posted by dreamer on May 10, 2008 at 12:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with all who have posted...
On Mother's Day weekend, or any weekend, this is a tragedy.
From what was reported, there was a carseat that was found in the wreckage; however, an 18 month old can't buckle themselves up!
This is just heartbreaking...