A real punch in the gut of a story.

[TFM_Dale]

A toddler has died after falling 50 feet from a luxury suite at the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Golden State Warriors in the Staples Center arena.

The 2-year-old, identified as Lucas Anthony Tang of Garden Grove, had crawled away from his parents' sight and they were looking for him when they found out he had fallen, the Los Angeles Times reported on Monday.

Police Sgt. Frank Alvelais said early Monday that the boy was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he died.

The boy fell from the third level top tier of the luxury suites several minutes after the Lakers beat the Warriors 117-89 on Sunday night. He was at the game with his parents and 11-year-old sister, the Times reported.

Witnesses told the Times the boy was moving his arms, legs and head before paramedics took him out of arena on a stretcher.

Officer Julie Sohn said Monday the LAPD child abuse unit is investigating because of the boy's age.

KTLA-TV reported that the child was taking pictures when he fell but later said that they couldn't confirm that information.

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5838014

[TFM_Dale]

Horrible, just horrible. I can't even imagine being a witness to this, I could barely read the damn article.

[chefcraig]

KTLA-TV reported that the child was taking pictures when he fell but later said that they couldn't confirm that information.

Huh? The child was two years old, yet could operate a camera?

[PETE'S BROTHER]

this coulda been just as bad


The charges against her include second-degree reckless endangerment, operating while intoxicated, possession of open intoxicants in a motor vehicle, transporting a child greater than 4 but less than 8 without restraints, failure to keep a vehicle under control, operating without a valid driver's license (third offense), failure to have proof of insurance, operating a vehicle with suspended registration, a safety belt violation for a child under 4, and knowingly operating without a valid driver's license while causing damage to property.

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_8da2a242-f668-11df-b900-001cc4c002e0.html

[jhale667]

I saw this on the local news last night, and apparently the kid only fell like 28 ft or so, but the result was still the same. Sad. And I mean, how many times have you even momentarily lost track of a kid? I don't even have any and know it's pretty easy to do from taking care of my niece when she was young, and friend's kids, you look away for a nanosecond and they're off climbing on something at that age...sucks.

[fifth element]

Huh? The child was two years old, yet could operate a camera?

V-Tech and LeapFrog and FisherPrice make real (simple) cameras designed for small children...
not sure of the age range (think is 3-7 years...)

the parents could find themselves charged w/ child neglect....(not abuse, as it was not an intentional act)
yes, it is EASY to lose track of a child if you do not keep a close close eye on them....but when tragedies occur, society dictates that someone must pay....

[chefcraig]

the parents could find themselves charged w/ child neglect....(not abuse, as it was not an intentional act)
yes, it is EASY to lose track of a child if you do not keep a close close eye on them....but when tragedies occur, society dictates that someone must pay....

I wonder about that sometimes. For instance, when a gun owner fails to secure the weapon in a locked case or closet and a child finds it, resulting in death, the parent (in addition to the heartbreak of the child's fate) can face charges or imprisonment for the neglect. Not only is this a shameful way of easing society's guilt and outrage at the incident, it compounds the tragedy. As if the loss of the child's life isn't enough, a municipality steps in to further punish the parent for a lack of responsible judgement. You'd think that the loss of a child was enough of a lesson without a further waste of time, money or a positive outcome for anyone involved.

[Nitro Express]

A friend of ours in Las Vegas had their little girl fall into an open hot tub and drown. It was a real tragedy. Sadly, these accidents happen and sure things could have prevented them but it's not a perfect world and sometimes tragedy happens. The worst punishment for parents is losing their child knowing that they could have prevented it. Unless, these people intentionally meant to harm their child it was an unfortunate accident and the last thing they need is a bunch of government workers harassing them because now they have a cause to harass. Sure, investigate how the accident happened and if the area can be made safer do it but unless these people were out to harm their child on purpose, leave them the hall alone.