Toddler killed in driveway
Nanny accidentally hits child with SUV
By MAY LEE JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND -- City police are investigating the death of 23-month-old Jaxson Swank of Dunrobbin Lane, who was run over in his driveway at 9 p.m. Monday.
Police said the child had just returned from shopping with his two nannies.
One nanny, according to police, had gotten out of the sport utility vehicle and was throwing out the trash when the accident occurred.
Jaxson was in the garage, but then had apparently wandered into the driveway.
The other nanny, Lindsay Reed, 26, backed the SUV over the child. Reed told police she did not see Jaxson leave the garage before hitting him.
The child was declared dead at the scene. Police said alcohol and speed were not factors in the accident.
"I would like to remind people to slow down and look around carefully before backing up and pulling out when small children are around," said Sgt. William G. Kraus. "Little kids move so quickly, so drivers should watch very carefully."
The vehicle involved was large, and the driver didn't see the little boy, Kraus said. He said he didn't think the driver would be charged in the incident.
"People think accidents like these happen mostly in the summer," he said, "but they can happen any time."
According to Janette Fennell, founder of Kids and Cars, a national group that keeps track of the number of children killed in such incidents and is pushing legislation on the issue, Kraus is right that drivers must be more aware.
"This little boy is the 61st child in the nation to be killed in an accident like this," she said. "Many times people look at accidents like this as a 'freak accident,' but they are more common than they think."
For more information, visit the Web site at www.kidsandcars.org.
A wooden stork stood in the front yard of the Swank home Tuesday afternoon. The family had recently had a baby girl and their church, Grace United Methodist, had welcomed the new member of the congregation with the yard decoration.
Staff writer May Lee Johnson:
mjohnson@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6326