Backhoe crushes 3-year-old

A 3-year-old child died from injuries suffered after he was run over by a backhoe operated by his father near Unionville early Saturday night, authorities said.

The child was identified as Hunter Roberts, son of Edward "Eddie" and Erin Jackson Roberts, according to an obituary notice from Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home, of Murfreesboro.

The child, whose name was not released by the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, ran behind the backhoe unseen by his father, Deputy Jimmy Rhodes said.

"It occurred on Davis Lane, off Pepper Hill Road, at a home under construction," Rhodes said.

"The father was on a mini-excavator doing landscaping work on the driveway. Three children were present.

"He was looking over his right shoulder while backing up and the child ran under the left wheel. The machine was too large for the father to have felt him."

The child was alive at the scene, emergency personnel said, but was suffering from what Rhodes termed "fatal head and chest injuries."

CPR was being performed at the scene before ambulance personnel arrived, according to police radio traffic.

"Ambulance personnel exhausted their efforts," Rhodes said.

Funeral services were scheduled to be held at 1 p.m. today, according to the obituary.