A toddler believed to be about 5 years old was critically injured Tuesday after a violent crash at the intersection of East 30th Street and Woodland Avenue on Cleveland’s East Side. Emergency crews shut down traffic in the area as they rushed to stabilize the child and other possible victims at the scene. First responders then transported the child to a nearby trauma center in critical, unconscious condition.
The Cleveland, Ohio Remembrance Page posted details about the crash Tuesday night, reporting that a vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree at East 30th and Woodland. According to the post, the child was unrestrained at the time of the collision and was transported unconscious and in critical condition. The post also stated that authorities were investigating the circumstances.
Child restraints and safety
CDC data show that unrestrained children are far more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries and require hospitalization in crashes, and NHTSA estimates that correctly used child restraints reduce fatalities by roughly 71% for infants and substantially for toddlers. Ohio law requires children under eight who are shorter than 4 feet 9 inches to be secured in an appropriate child restraint or booster seat under Ohio Revised Code §4511.81.
Collision history at East 30th and Woodland
The junction of East 30th and Woodland has seen serious crashes in recent years, including an incident when a driver ran a red light and struck an RTA bus that sent a dozen people to the hospital, as reported by News 5 Cleveland. Traffic-safety advocates say busy corridors that mix high speeds, signalized intersections and transit vehicles can increase the chances of severe collisions.
Police are investigating the crash and the circumstances that led to the child’s injuries, according to the Facebook post. This story will be updated as officials, witnesses or hospitals provide additional information.
