Florida boy killed in truck accident

Following a tragic truck accident, a 2-year-old Florida boy is dead. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the child had been standing with his grandmother in a neighbor's yard when the child broke away from his grandmother's reach and ran into the street. He was then hit by an oncoming truck that was hauling garbage. The truck was registered to a private operator.

The driver of the truck reportedly attempted to swerve in order to avoid striking the boy, but was unable to do so, causing the rear wheel of the vehicle to run over the child. While it has not yet been determined whether the driver was speeding, a neighbor of the boy's family said the area frequently sees aggressive drivers.

"They think it's a race track," she stated. Another neighbor explained that he sees vehicles speeding through the area every day, some going as fast 60 mph.

No charges have been filed against the truck's driver. However, police say charges may be filed pending the results of an investigation. He reportedly has a history of traffic violations. He was cited in 2006 for speeding. Police reports indicate that the man was traveling 75 mph in a 45 mph speed zone during that incident.

Residents of the neighborhood were shocked upon hearing of the child's death, referring to the young boy as "everyone's baby." Many of them said that this should serve as a strong call for drivers to slow down while traveling through the area.

Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal, "Osteen boy, 2 killed by truck hauling garbage," Patricio Balona, 19 July 2011