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DPS looking into case of toddler allegedly run over at home

joyetter@samoanews.com

The Department of Public Safety has yet to complete their investigation into the death of an infant over the weekend, who was allegedly run over by a vehicle that was backing up, this is according to the DPS Commissioner, Save Liuato Tuitele.

Responding to Samoa News queries, Save said no criminal charges have been filed as the police have not concluded their investigation.

According to the police, the infant boy was home with his cousin in Petesa. The Commissioner told Samoa News the police investigation has uncovered that the child was outside by himself. He said the child was alone with his cousin, and the baby’s father had left. According to the police it was the grandfather’s sister who pulled into the driveway.

The older boy who was at the house informed the police that he was inside the house and noticed his little cousin was not inside the house and when he came out looking for the child, he found his cousin on the ground behind the F-150 truck.

Save told Samoa News that the investigation so far indicates that no one saw if the vehicle ran over the child.

He said until the investigation is completed, then it will be determined whom, or if any charges will be filed — in the meantime, it’s unclear. Save said the infant suffered head injuries.

Asked about a similar incident in Nu’uuli that occurred in August of this year, if anyone has been charged, Save said its unclear if anyone has been charged yet in that case — where a toddler died of head injuries. The case is still at the Attorney General’s Office.

That case, which happened in Nuuuli, was of a one-year old child who died almost immediately due to severe head trauma injuries, according to Emergency Medical Service official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The official said when EMS personnel arrived at the residence, the young boy was unresponsive, at the time; and was coded from the scene of the incident all the way to the Emergency Room, where it was called off and the toddler was officially pronounced dead, from the severity of his injuries.