UPDATE 3/3: Hanson Police said the driver, the child's caregiver, spoke to police Tuesday night. The incident was determined to be an accident, the child was confirmed to be unharmed, and the driver will not face any charges or citations.
The child was in their car seat, and unbuckled themselves and opened the car's door before its auto-lock system engaged.
"We were glad to find out that the child was okay and it appears that this incident was accidental," Chief Miksch said. "I would like to thank the members of the media and public who assisted us in getting the word out that we were looking to speak with the driver involved."
The Department of Children and Families was notified about the incident.
HANSON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Hanson Police are asking the public to help them identify the person who was driving a car that a young child was caught on video falling from on Monday morning.
It happened around 10 a.m. on Liberty Street, which is also Route 58, as a white SUV left the Hanson Town Hall parking lot.
"As the vehicle turned onto Liberty Street a small child opened the rear driver's side door and fell out of the vehicle onto the road," police said in a release. "The child tumbled into the road and quickly stood up and ran towards the vehicle."
The woman driving the SUV got out and picked the child up, bringing them back to the car, which police said they believed was a Dodge Journey.
The incident was captured on surveillance video, shown above and below, released by Hanson Police.
"We want to ensure the safety and well-being of the child, as well as determine how this event happened," Hanson Police Chief Michael Miksch said in the release. "Thankfully it appears that the child may not have been seriously injured. But we want to make sure and we would like to speak with the driver."
Chief Miksch also shared several tips from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration on driving with young kids:
- Teach children when they can and can't open a car door
- Teach children that doors aren't toys to be played with
- Keep child locks functioning on rear doors at all times
- Make sure car seats are installed correctly
- Make sure infants under age 1 are always in rear-facing car seats
Anyone with information about the child or driver is asked to call Hanson Police at 781-293-4625.
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