Child's accident shows driveway dangers

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A child is hit by a car backing out of a driveway every four hours in the United States, safety experts say.

In 2007, 2,000 children were injured after they were backed over by a vehicle; 99 died.

Hailey Marie Ryan, 2, remains in critical condition Monday at after being run over by her mother's vehicle Friday.

Amber Devlin, was backing out of the driveway in her Chevy Impala around 1:30 p.m. when the toddler was struck at their Day Township home. Devlin had arrived home from work, and her fiance was sitting with Hailey in another vehicle next to her car.

Devlin remembered she need to get gas, got back in the Impala and began to back out of the driveway. Hailey had walked behind the car before she was hit.

Objects or small children would have to be at least about 12 feet behind the car in order for the driver to see them. Vehicle manufacturers have addressed this problem with devices such as object sensors and back-up cameras in order to provide drivers with a panoramic view of what's going on behind them.

But not everyone owns a car that includes these features.

The best way to avoid accidents is to get out before you back up, safety experts say.

"Before you first get in your car, walk around you entire vehicle -- 360 degrees, looking underneath and what's around for any objects, any children," said deputy Tonya Walkons of the Kent County Sheriff's Department. "If you know there are children in your neighborhood, you need to be especially cautious for that."

The taller your vehicle, the more viewing distance you need.

"I'm (5-foot-6)," Walkons said. "It would be 27 feet before I could actually see a child on a bike, tricycle or walking."

It's not just driveways drivers should consider.

"Also (consider) parking lots, supermarkets, malls, soccer fields, baseball fields," Walkons said. "There's a lot of narrow parking places where kids are in and out of parents' cars."

SUVs require about 16 feet from the vehicle's bumper to see an object. Minivans require 15 feet and sedans need 12.

Hailey was taken from her Montcalm County home to Carson City Hospital initially, then flown to DeVos Children's Hospital. 24 Hour News 8 will continue to follow her condition.

---------

On the Web:

Safe Kids Coalition