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Infant dies after falling out of the backseat of a car, being run over, police say

The baby girl's mother put the girl in the backseat unrestrained, Prince William County, Virginia, police said. When a family member opened the door, the child fell out.
/ Source: The Associated Press

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — A baby girl has died after she fell out of the backseat of a car in northern Virginia and was accidentally run over, police said Monday.

Prince William County police said they responded to an accident Sunday afternoon in Woodbridge.

According to police, a 35-year-old mother from Hyattsville, Maryland, was visiting family members with her 10-month-old daughter.

Police said the mother placed the infant in the backseat, unrestrained, and drove her 2013 Toyota Highlander a short distance to a trash bin. The mother then drove back to a home to pick up additional family members.

When a family member opened the back door, the girl fell out of the SUV. At that point, the mother got out of the driver’s seat to check on her child, but police say she left the car in drive. The vehicle rolled forward and struck the child, causing a serious head injury.

The child died later in the day. Police are not identifying the mother or the baby. No charges have yet been filed, but police say the case remains under investigation.