Police in Louisiana have confirmed that a one-year-old boy who died after falling from a moving pickup truck was not properly secured in the vehicle. The tragic incident occurred on February 20 when Nicholas Aguilar bounced out of the back of a red 2014 Dodge Ram truck around 11:20am.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Authorities reported that the vehicle's door swung open during a sharp turn, sending the toddler sprawling onto the concrete ground at the Murphy USA gas station in Baton Rouge. The child was subsequently run over by the truck's back tire. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene where dramatic footage captured paramedics and police officers providing aid while the boy's mother, Eliza Aguilar, spoke with investigators.
Nicholas Aguilar was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police have confirmed he was not properly restrained in the rear passenger's seat of the vehicle. The investigation remains ongoing, and it remains unclear who was driving the pickup truck at the time of the accident or whether criminal charges will be filed against them.
Family's Heartbreaking Response
Following the sudden death, Aguilar's heartbroken family members have shared photos of the child online. His aunt, Tianna Aguilar, created a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for funeral and burial costs. "Our family is heartbroken, and we are trying to support her in every way we can during this incredibly difficult time," Tianna said of her sister.
She added: "The sudden loss has left us all in shock, and we want to give her baby a proper funeral and burial to honor his memory and say our goodbyes with love and dignity." As of Friday, $710 had been raised for the family through the fundraising campaign.
Just hours after the tragic incident, Tianna took to Facebook requesting prayers for her family. In a subsequent update, she thanked everyone who has donated and shared the GoFundMe page, noting that the family's church, Lanie Baptist Church, has been assisting them during this trying period.
Child Safety Regulations and Expert Commentary
Mark Lambert with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission emphasized that state law requires young children to be properly restrained in motor vehicles. "All children have to be in a car seat until they're big enough or old enough to get out of one, and that starts from when you take them home from the hospital," Lambert told WBRZ 2.
He continued: "Their bodies haven't developed, and they need more protection, and the only thing that can really provide that accurately is a child safety seat." Janette Fennell, founder of Kids and Car Safety, echoed this sentiment, stating that Aguilar wouldn't have fallen out if he were properly secured in a car seat.
"If that child was in a car seat, correctly restrained, there's no way they could fall out," Fennell said, adding that parents should also consider investing in inside door child locks for their vehicles as an additional safety measure.
Legal Consequences and Penalties
In Louisiana, the first offense for not properly securing a child in a car results in a $100 fine. Subsequent offenses carry steeper penalties, with the second offense costing $250 to $500 and the third offense resulting in a $500 fine plus potential court costs.
When improper child restraint results in death, those responsible can face serious criminal charges including negligent homicide or manslaughter. These charges carry significant prison time and hefty fines, highlighting the serious legal consequences of failing to properly secure children in vehicles.
The Baton Rouge Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident that has left a family devastated and a community questioning child safety practices in vehicles.
