The child’s mother and grandmother told deputies that they’d been test-driving their Chevrolet Blazer on their private road, as it had been experiencing transmission issues.

After the vehicle began to stall, the mother, who was driving, put the car in reverse, drove forward, and then put it in reverse once again to ensure the car was working okay.

The mother realized as she was driving that the family dog — which she had left inside with the toddler — was in the yard, alerting her that her son was likely outside as well, according to the release.

“Two-year-olds, some of them do have the ability to open a door on their own,” Clark said. “They did say that they left the toddler and a dog inside the house at the time, so when they saw the dog was outside in the yard, it’s a clear indicator that, ‘Oh no, our child is likely in the yard as well.’”

Shortly after making the realization, the mother and grandmother found the toddler on the ground in front of their vehicle.

He was flown to Tampa General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

The accident was eerily similar to one in March 2015 that resulted in the death of the woman’s 2-year-old daughter at the same address.

Izbella, too, was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where she died of her injuries, the outlet reported at the time.

“It’s absolutely a tragic accident, especially because such a young child lost his life,” said Clark of Tuesday’s accident. “This is something where, we just always try to drill home to families that you have to be extremely cautious whenever you have children that are out in the yard when your vehicles are running. We always ask that you make sure before getting in your vehicle and starting that car, you check around the vehicle to make sure no children or pets are there.”

An investigation is ongoing, and no charges have yet been filed against the boy’s family members.

The spokesperson says Child Protective Services investigators responded to Tuesday’s accident, and were verifying the well-being of two additional children who live in the home and are believed to be the same mother’s children.

source: people.com