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4-year-old dies after being partially ejected in Morganton crash

By Ken Lemon, wsoctv.com
By Ken Lemon, wsoctv.com

MORGANTON, N.C. — A 4-year-old boy died in a crash Thursday night in Morganton after authorities said he was partially thrown from an SUV.

Crews responded to the crash at the intersection of Collette and College streets. Officers arrived to find a crossover SUV that had flipped over on its side and a sedan that had sustained extensive front-end damage.

7 Simple Car Seat Safety Tips 7 Simple Car Seat Safety Tips

Two adults and four children -- ages 2 months old, 4 years old, 7 years old and 14 years old -- were inside the SUV. The 4-year-old died at the scene.

The other passengers in the SUV were taken to Carolinas Healthcare Systems-Morganton with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the sedan was also taken to CHS-Morganton with non-life-threatening injuries.

The woman who heard the crash and called 911 told WSOC that what she saw and heard was so disturbing that she couldn't sleep last night.

Robert Bolick was working up the street when he heard an SUV crash with the car.

"Heard the initial impact, then I heard the tires screech," Bolick said.

He heard a grieving mother cry out when she realized her child had been partially ejected.

"It’s just something you won't get out of your head," he said. "(She was) screaming, ‘Oh, my God, not my child, not my child.' It's just something that -- I hope I never hear it again."

He said the pain in her voice was more disturbing than the sound of the cars colliding.

Police haven’t said what caused the crash, but no charges have been filed at this time.

Police are not certain if the 4-year-old who died at the scene had been properly restrained in the vehicle.

Morganton police said they are investigating the child's safety seat.

[RELATED: Child safety experts advise parents about common car seat mistakes]

An accident reconstruction team examined the scene Thursday night.

The heartbreaking loss is trying even for the police officers, Maj. Tony Lowdermilk said.

"It’s hard to lose anyone, but when you lose someone of that age, at this time of year, It makes it that much more difficult," Lowdermilk said.

Authorities have not released the names of anyone involved in the crash.

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