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Child seat thrown out as car overturns

Thursday, May 28, 2009
By David Melson

The child safety seat in which 2-year-old Ana Singleton was riding when it was thrown from an overturning van Wednesday night on U.S. 231 North landed some distance away from the vehicle. She was critically injured, investigators say.
(T-G Photo by David Melson)

A 2-year-old girl was seriously injured when she, and her safety seat, were ejected from an overturning van early Wednesday night on U.S. 231 North in northern Shelbyville, police said.

Ana Singleton was listed in critical condition this morning at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, said Lt. Trey Clanton, an accident investigator with the Shelbyville Police Department.

She was riding in a van driven by her mother, Crystal Singleton, 24, of Regent Drive, who was treated and released at Heritage Medical Center, Clanton said.

Ana's child safety seat landed approximately 20 yards south of the van, investigators including Lt. Johnny Hunter, of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, said. Rescuers said they found her lying unconscious next to the seat.

Officers were notified of the accident via a call to 911 about 6:45 p.m. Arriving officers told emergency radio dispatchers Ana was "unresponsive."

The older model Chevrolet Astro van was northbound about a half-mile south of Shelbyville Municipal Airport when it ran off the right side of the road, Clanton said.

"It looks like the right rear tire came apart and she lost control," Clanton said. "The van flipped over five times."

Skid marks and tire tracks indicated the van slid through a grassy field into the front yard of a residence. Clanton estimated the path at "probably around 150 feet."

Clanton said this morning the accident is still under investigation and he had not determined if seat belts were in use.

Comments

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People need to slow down and pay attention, ESPECIALLY when you have children in the vehicle with you!!

Our prayers go out to this little one and hope she recovers soon.

-- Posted by -Beth- on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 10:14 AM

this is so sad.. our prayers are with that little girl....

-- Posted by jaibirrd23 on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 11:18 AM

Obviously the safety seat was not installed properly, nor the child buckled in properly. A safety seat cant protect your child if it's not used in accordance with how it was designed. It's alarming how many parents are confused by how these should be secured.

My prayers are with the child, as well as the parents.

-- Posted by superx1250 on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 12:10 PM

A good warning to all parents. Even if you cant afford the best, often a used tire is better than some Ive seen running down the road.

-- Posted by BobM on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 12:25 PM

I seen this wreck yesterday. It was horrible. They are in my prayers.

-- Posted by 3boxers on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 12:45 PM

I hope little Ana makes a full and speedy recovery.

-- Posted by jtjustice30 on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 1:28 PM

I am one of the Aunts to this child and can say that seat belts were buckled cause of the brusies that are on both the mother and child Yes this is good for awarness but remember accidents due happen please keep this family in your prayers thats whats improtant right now in there time of need thank you

-- Posted by Erica Trail on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 5:00 PM

My prayers for this little girl and her family.

-- Posted by Momof3&3step&1gran on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 6:37 PM

I hope and pray GOD is with little Ana not to mention her Mom. These tragedies can play a very bad part in the loss of your sanity. Know that God is with you Mrs. Singleton and HE is watching over your precious child too. You are in my familes thoughts and prayers though we dont know you personally He still hears our prayers for everyone we pray for. God Bless and peace on mind be with you.

-- Posted by wrongiswrong on Fri, May 29, 2009, at 9:11 AM

I have a son and I ALWAYS make sure he's strapped in. The one time the seat wasn't strapped in he wasn't in there (Thank God!) and the seat tipped over. Now it stays strapped tightly in the backseat of my car. I hope this little girl makes it alright....I know as a parent how hard these types of things could be. I don't know what I'd do if I lost my little man. My prayers are with her. And everyone please remember that no matter how bad you think the situation the mother is going through a very very difficult time and doesn't need to be criticized. Noone excepet the cops and emt's and the mom know what happened for sure so noone should judge. And for the "aunt" if my neiece was in critical care in Vanderbilt I wouldnt be at home on STG's website!

-- Posted by freakyfriday on Fri, May 29, 2009, at 8:06 PM

Hello i m the sister to crystal which is Ana's Mother. Ana has went to heaven to be with Jesus. And just to get it straight they were both in seat belts and little was buckled in Correctly...

Please pray for my sister Crystal to have the strength to get thru this hard time of losing her little princess Ana.. Thanks for all you Prayers.. If you would like please send Flowers to

Doak-Howell Funeral Home

739 N Main St

Shelbyville, TN 37160

(931) 684-5011ı

-- Posted by misty052681 on Mon, Jun 1, 2009, at 5:14 PM