Plant City Toddler Struck, Killed By Family SUV

PLANT CITY, FL — A toddler was hit and killed Tuesday night by an SUV driven by a family member.

Shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies were called to a home on the 3900 block of State Road 60 in the Plant City area for a report of a 2-year-old boy struck by a family vehicle.

The child’s mother and grandmother told deputies they were test driving the family’s white Chevrolet Blazer that had recently experienced transmission issues. The child’s mother was in the driver’s seat.

While test driving the SUV on their private road, the mother said the vehicle began to stall. She put the vehicle in reverse, drove forward, then drove backward again. While driving, the mother spotted the family dog in the yard and said she realized her child had likely opened the door of their home letting both himself and the dog outside.

Shortly after, the mother and grandmother located the 2-year-old boy on the ground in front of the vehicle. The child was flown to Tampa General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

No charges have been filed.