Glenside boy, 6, dies when vehicle rolls backward at home

A 6-year-old boy from Glenside died after being accidentally struck by his mother's vehicle, which was parked at home, Abington Township police said.

Deputy Police Chief John Livingood said the boy's mother and his siblings had just returned home at 4:10 p.m. Thursday. The car was parked on a steep driveway, and the woman had turned off the engine and removed the key from the ignition.

She unloaded several of the children, including the boy, and was preparing to remove the others when the vehicle inexplicably rolled backward, Livingood said Friday.

The boy died from his injuries a short time later at Abington Memorial Hospital.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said her office had been notified of the accident but would take no action. She termed the boy's death a "horrible, unimaginable, tragic accident."

Livingood said the vehicle was a 1996 Chevrolet Suburban that had been inspected and appeared to be in good repair.

"We have the vehicle and are having it examined for mechanical defects," he said. "So far, we have not found any."

Livingood said the department was withholding the name of the family until all its members were notified of the boy's death.