Good Samaritans Help Rescue Children In Rollover Crash

(TOWNSHIP OF PERTH EAST, ON) On Monday July 30, 2012, shortly after 4 p.m. Perth County OPP officers were dispatched to a vehicle rollover crash on Line 49 north-west of Rostock.

Investigation revealed that a Dodge Neon had been driving eastbound on Line 49, when the driver lost control on the gravel road. The vehicle veered off the road, entered the south ditch, rolled, and came to rest on its roof. The 28 year old female driver from Stratford sustained minor injuries while the two young children, which were secured in proper car seats, were spared from potentially serious injuries. The four year old boy received very minor injuries while the two year old girl was uninjured.

Passing motorists assisted the vehicle occupants (who were hanging upside down) safely out of the vehicle. One of the assisting motorists sustained minor cuts from broken glass.

All three vehicle occupants were transported to Stratford General Hospital for treatment and examination.

The driver of the vehicle has been charged with “careless driving” and is to appear in Stratford court on August 21, 2012 to answer to this charge.

This crash serves as a good reminder to ensure that infants and children are transported in appropriate car seats that are tightly secured. Correctly used car seats can reduce the possibility of injury or death in a collision by 75 percent.

Never use car seats that have been in a car crash, even a minor one. If you use a hand-me-down car seat, ask the previous owner if the car seat has ever been in a crash. If it has been in a crash, whether or not a child was in it, it should not be used; the seat may not provide adequate protection if it were in another collision.

Over 150,000 Monthly Readers! 1 Million+ Across the entire FreePress Network.