DENVER - For the second time in 24 hours, a child was run over by a vehicle in a driveway.
The latest accident happened Wednesday morning in the 4300 block of York Street. Police say a 1-year-old boy died when a black pickup truck backed up over him.
There was a similar accident Tuesday night. A 1-year-old child was run over by her mother on South Xavier Street in Denver.
The mother told police she didn't see her daughter in the driveway when she returned home. At last check, the little girl was listed in serious condition.
The accidents carry a serious reminder for all of us to take in to consideration the next time we get in our cars.
At 911 Driving School in Westminster, instructors use accidents like the two that happened recently to explain how important it is to be aware of your settings.
"Every time you get into a car, you should walk around it," Russ Eldore, owner of the driving school, said.
All of the school's instructors are either active or retired police officers. One of the instructors, Matt Rippy, says these sorts of accidents can be prevented.
"Whenever there are kids and automobiles, if there's the slightest hint of distracted driving, then the door opens for catastrophe," Rippy said.
Rippy says the best advice is to take a few seconds before you get in to your car to search around it for any wandering children.
"Stay focused, avoid distractions and avoid complacency," he said.
It might seem like a no brainer, but Rippy says you would be surprised by how many people don't do it.
According to Rippy, 25 percent of all car accidents are caused by distracted driving.
It's unclear whether the two accidents involving the 1-year-old children were caused by distracted driving.
(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)