Side view/Rear view mirrors are there for a reason...

[oliegirl]

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — A woman backing out of a driveway to get Christmas candy accidentally ran over her 6-year-old daughter and killed her, police said.

Cordelia Quistorf, 24, did not realize the girl had gone outside, police said.

Quistorf's other daughter and two sons were in the car with her.

Detective Ed Worthman said no charges were expected.

From ajc.com...I'll post the link if anyone is interested, but this was the entire story.

I find it hard to believe someone could back out of their driveway without seeing a 6 year old child...under 3, maybe because they are so short. But 6? That is just tragic. I know the woman is beside herself with grief and guilt, and those children are scarred for life. So sad

[timmae]

wow... sad news from my hometown. Scary... they have had quite a few "odd" news items come out of that city as of late. The most recent that I can think of is a dude who beat his wife with a cactus. Glad I am 145 miles south I guess...

[Axxon]

Originally Posted by timmae

wow... sad news from my hometown. Scary... they have had quite a few "odd" news items come out of that city as of late. The most recent that I can think of is a dude who beat his wife with a cactus. Glad I am 145 miles south I guess...

Of late? Anyone remember this?

hxxp://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/1783

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by timmae

wow... sad news from my hometown. Scary... they have had quite a few "odd" news items come out of that city as of late. The most recent that I can think of is a dude who beat his wife with a cactus. Glad I am 145 miles south I guess...

Pretty close to my hometown as well. I guess I'm not so surprised that something like this happened. Things are so hectic this time of year, and having three (probably) screaming kids in the car can't help.

[vex]

SUV?

[Cringer]

As a good parent should do, she was keeping track of her 6 year olds location pretty well I would say.

[Lorena]

I don't think the title is appropriate, even though we have side/rear view mirrors, we still have "blind spots". The fact there "there for a reason" makes it seem you're blaming the mother for this tragic accident. Sure she ran him over, but it was an accident. This poor mom will have to live with this the rest of her life.

I feel horrible for the mom... what an unfortunate story

[Cringer]

Accidents can be prevented. I do blame her.

[BrianD]

Without more facts, it is hard to know if she should be blamed. Was the kid playing in the driveway, or did she dart across without giving the mom time to stop? Hard to say what it would have taken to prevent this accident.

[Axxon]

A woman backing out of a driveway to get Christmas candy accidentally ran over her 6-year-olddaughter and killed her, police said.

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

I don't think the title is appropriate, even though we have side/rear view mirrors, we still have "blind spots". The fact there "there for a reason" makes it seem you're blaming the mother for this tragic accident. Sure she ran him over, but it was an accident. This poor mom will have to live with this the rest of her life.

I feel horrible for the mom... what an unfortunate story

She ran over two kids??

Seriously though, I'm with you on the holding off placing blame on the mom. She thought the child was still inside the house. Who was supposed to be watching her?

She was busy getting three other kids into the car. She had no reason to be watching for this child and in a situation like this the child could easily get behind the car unseen.

I'm not saying she wasn't negligent but nothing in the story as posted leads me to believe that she necessarily was.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Without more facts, it is hard to know if she should be blamed. Was the kid playing in the driveway, or did she dart across without giving the mom time to stop? Hard to say what it would have taken to prevent this accident.

They had one of the family members on the news. From what they said, the child was left behind because she wanted to play so, the mother took the other 3 children along.. guess the child left the house and went behind the car. No mention of who was watching her.

[Axxon]

Originally Posted by oliegirl

I find it hard to believe someone could back out of their driveway without seeing a 6 year old child...under 3, maybe because they are so short. But 6? That is just tragic. I know the woman is beside herself with grief and guilt, and those children are scarred for life. So sad

Even if the child found a toy by the rear tires of the car and sat directly behind the tire to play with it? Even if the child got behind the car when the parent was distracted by the other three kids she was responsible for? Even if she had no idea the child was in the yard?

It is a tragedy though. I'll agree with that.

[Klinglerware]

Very tragic. Christmas can be a very stressful time, and it wouldn't be surprising if the mother was pretty harried and stressed out with all the holiday crap she had to do-- she could have just backed out of her driveway without thinking. I know I've done that in the past...

Not trying to be an apologist for the mother here, just conjecturing what could have happened.

[Qwikshot]

I bring up the question, who is supposed to be watching the six year old?

Whenever I get my daughter (five on Jan. 2nd), I bring her to the porch from the driveway and keep an eye when my ex backs out, or brother, or my parents.

Whenever we go to a store, she can unbuckle her seat belt, but I always (every time), tell her not to get out of the car until I come over and open the door and get her.

I have lectured at length to my daughter not to play in the street or driveway without someone watching her (our street is a cul-de-sac). I have also told her never to walk behind the car.

Yes, I'm sure the mom was distracted, but whoever else was watching the six year old should have known where the child was.

People make mistakes, but this is one which is very preventable. Even stressed out, I have never ever not been aware of where my daughter is when she's in my car, and while she is independent, she knows the boundaries and rules.

And while grisly, she's seen what cars can do, she asked me once about the deer lying on the side of the road.