Trending
BELLEVILLE - In what local authorities are calling a tragic accident, a two-year-old Mifflin County child was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by his uncle Saturday afternoon.
Mifflin County Regional Police responded to a scene at 12 p.m. Saturday at the Valley View Christian School, 120 Applehouse Road, Belleville, where they found a horrific sight.
Cpl. Quinton Isett said Sunday morning because the investigation is continuing, the names will not be released.
There are still forensics to be completed on the vehicle involved in the incident, he explained.
Isett did confirm the victim was a boy who had "a birthday coming up in May," so he was almost age three. He also said those involved were attending a "family event at the school."
"The child was positioned outside the structure, struck by the car and enforced into the structure," Mifflin County Regional Police Department Chief Andre French said Saturday night. "It's as tragic as it sounds.
"Based on the information available right now, we believe this to be an accident," French added. "The driver experienced a medical event that precipitated this crash."
MCRPD believes the death was accidental and not a result of foul play. The driver of the vehicle was transported to Lewistown-Geisinger Hospital for treatment.
"We believe this was just a horrific accident," French said. "It's a total tragedy. We wanted to do our due diligence and requested assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police. They provided an accident reconstructionist and a forensic service unit. We wanted to make sure we left no stone unturned."
There was also a third individual involved in the incident, who Isett believed was a family member. He was in a bathroom located near where the vehicle hit the building. Isett said the individual was treated at the scene and released.
There were other individuals inside the building who were unharmed. They were evacuated without incident.
Acting Mifflin County Corner Andrea Alcalde confirmed the child's death. Like French, Alcalde believes it was a matter of the child being "in the wrong place at the wrong time."
The Valley View Christian School building did sustain structural damage with one of the support beams, Isett said.
Besides MCRPD, emergency responders from Allensville Fire Co., Belleville Fire Co., Big Valley EMS and Fame EMS were also at the scene. Members of the Juniata Valley Crisis Mobile Unit were also dispatched to provide support.