Stuff: Toddler killed in Christchurch accident

[awayatc]

Looks like this young mum was having a little fun, and it went a little pear shaped.
Sure it is easy to look back with 20/20 hind sight and say it was a stupid thing to do.....

Yeah just a little pearshaped....

20/20 hindsight?

Half an ounce of commonsense would have sufficed.....

[Number One]

20/20 hindsight?

Half an ounce of commonsense would have sufficed.....

I personally am a believer in Murphys Law...you know, IF it is going to happen it WILL happen to me. I don't see myself as ten foot tall and bullet proof and the risks I take are my own and with my own life. I tend to prefer to make decisions based on wanting to be safe rather than sorry - especially when it comes to the safety of children mine or others.

Part of me thinks my boy would absolutely be able to hold on etc etc but if the shit were to hit the fan I couldn't live with myself were he to be hurt...and I probably wouldn't live with myself if his death were caused by my actions under the guise of 'having a little fun'.

Each to their own and all that of course, we all make our own choices. I just hope that my own feelings of 'mortality' and propensity to stop and think ok what if (and can I cope with that what if were it to happen) keep me in check so that I never have to live regretting a terrible decision with this kind of outcome.

[Winston001]

Looks like this young mum was having a little fun, and it went a little pear shaped.

Sure it is easy to look back with 20/20 hind sight and say it was a stupid thing to do.....

I've certainly done the occasional thing with my children which could have meant they got hurt. Not dead, but wet or broken arm etc. My philosophy was to expose them to risk, a bit of thrill, test their abilities, but keep very close and ready.

If - if this mother was simply riding up and down a driveway on a scooter, frankly the level of danger was very low. I can understand that in terms of a bit of fun. Despite the swirling blades, I used to take my kids on the ride-on lawnmower.

However she must have been a total novice to lose control and ride out into the traffic. Of course this is pure conjecture - but don't be too hard on her until we know more.

[Iggy]

I personally know the young truck driver involved in the accident, he does deliveries to where I work, a real politeful guy and a good driver. Just a real tragic accident for all concerned.

[scootnz]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10528710

I had to cry reading about the fathers reaction on being told what had happened.

[munterk6]

So sad and tragic to hear of, when you are doing things like riding up and down the drive having a good old laugh, the last thing in your mind is tragedy....a bit like screaming down the highway in hot pursuit of your mates at totally illegal speeds. Its all shits n giggles till someone comes unstuck

[RT527]

I am stunned to hear of this, and was also surprised not to see the headline say " girl killed by truck " I feel for everyone even the young mother....I think if we are honest with ourselves we can all say bugger that was close maybe I shouldn't have done that , at some time or other.

something like this is a pure accident no body did anything to intentionally harm or try to harm the girl involved, and it really is a bit late to say she shouldnt have been riding on it with her mum , probably having a ball of a time....wasnt it just recent that Kiwibiker members organizes a ride for the young ones...what would you all be saying now if something had of gone pear shaped there and some lil fella/lady got hurt....

Its hard to say this but are we so soft that we cant even take small risks.
Think Im going to go upstairs now and wrap my kids in cotton wool ....cause ya just never know do you!!!.

My condolences go out to all involved including the young women riding the moped.
Oh and to the person who knows the truck driver...please talk to him and make sure he is aware of the help that he can receive, it wont be in the few days after but eventually it will start to play on his mind ...and the what if scenario`s will start to play on his mind.
Everyone stay safe out there .
RT527.

[awayatc]

People that grew up pre-nana had to think for themselves.....

Which they must have managed allright, judging by the number of survivors...

Nana's vege patch needs ever increasingly absurd and complex legislation to protect ittself from selfdestruction.

Trying to cheat Darwin however allows the weeds to grow out of control

[<Rhino>]

Its hard to say this but are we so soft that we cant even take small risks.
Think Im going to go upstairs now and wrap my kids in cotton wool ....cause ya just never know do you!!!.

Risk - Stupidity - Responsability all of which a factors in most accidents.

Yes she took a risk but risk can be eliminated or minimised in most cases, would you let your kids ride thier bike without a helmet! Simply wearing safety gear could lessen the risk of injury. Stupidity, I see it all the time I live next to a Kindy/school and the amount of kids I see in the back seat with NO belts on is amazing now to me thats just stupid, the belts are there they just don't get used, this means the adult who is supposed to be the smart one and care for the child lacks responsability. When the shit hits the fan these people always look to shift the blame to somone else and absolve themselves of responsability that they didn't even have in the first place or this would never have even happened.

I say charge her, I know she's had a greivous loss that will never heal but make her responsable for her actions and chioces. She made the chioce for a child who wasn't in a position to asess the risk for themselves.

[Grahameeboy]

Risk - Stupidity - Responsability all of which a factors in most accidents.

Yes she took a risk but risk can be eliminated or minimised in most cases, would you let your kids ride thier bike without a helmet! Simply wearing safety gear could lessen the risk of injury. Stupidity, I see it all the time I live next to a Kindy/school and the amount of kids I see in the back seat with NO belts on is amazing now to me thats just stupid, the belts are there they just don't get used, this means the adult who is supposed to be the smart one and care for the child lacks responsability. When the shit hits the fan these people always look to shift the blame to somone else and absolve themselves of responsability that they didn't even have in the first place or this would never have even happened.

I say charge her, I know she's had a greivous loss that will never heal but make her responsable for her actions and chioces. She made the chioce for a child who wasn't in a position to asess the risk for themselves.

I agree, when is NZ going to shead this "she will be right" view.....

[Grahameeboy]

I am stunned to hear of this, and was also surprised not to see the headline say " girl killed by truck " I feel for everyone even the young mother....I think if we are honest with ourselves we can all say bugger that was close maybe I shouldn't have done that , at some time or other.

something like this is a pure accident no body did anything to intentionally harm or try to harm the girl involved, and it really is a bit late to say she shouldnt have been riding on it with her mum , probably having a ball of a time....wasnt it just recent that Kiwibiker members organizes a ride for the young ones...what would you all be saying now if something had of gone pear shaped there and some lil fella/lady got hurt....

Its hard to say this but are we so soft that we cant even take small risks.
Think Im going to go upstairs now and wrap my kids in cotton wool ....cause ya just never know do you!!!.

My condolences go out to all involved including the young women riding the moped.
Oh and to the person who knows the truck driver...please talk to him and make sure he is aware of the help that he can receive, it wont be in the few days after but eventually it will start to play on his mind ...and the what if scenario`s will start to play on his mind.
Everyone stay safe out there .
RT527.

I do see where you are coming from, however, at same time there are limits to this "no cotton wool" view.

Yes kid was having fun...was being the operative word...cause kid is dead now so at 2 will miss out on the future fun....

[Grahameeboy]

I was riding in Upper Hutt last week and saw somthing similer, A man riding one of these machines, with a toddler standing between his legs in the footwell area, in normal clothes and a pushbike helmet, nice pink one!! I thought to myself at the time WTF, had to take a seccond look to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing.

I really hope that inocent little lives are not being put at risk like this because of the costs of fuel and travel etc. I have three littlies, and would never considder putting them on the back, they don't have the strenth, the gear, the mass to deal with falling off.

Sad sad news for this little person, I really feel for you and others involved.

I saw some guy put his kids in the back of his 4WD once....because the bikes were on the seats...

[Grahameeboy]

That is your choice, and good on you.

I do know of 3 year olds who were very competent riders at that age.
I personally was riding (yes, in control of the bike) at 6.
I have had no issue with taking children for a ride pillion.... My choice.

Looks like this young mum was having a little fun, and it went a little pear shaped.
Sure it is easy to look back with 20/20 hind sight and say it was a stupid thing to do.....

Mmm...think you are missing the point...your choice but what about the kids...sorry but that is a selfish attitude because really it is you who wants the fun as well..

[Skyryder]

As I understand the woman lost control and shot out into the road.

She did not deliberatley pillion the toddler out onto the roadway. I'll not pass judgment on this one. A tradgedy for all involved.

Skyryder

[toebug]

Definately a tragedy!

I have to admit that I put my kids in front of me and take them for rides around the coldersack (dont know how to spell that!). I do put a helmet on them and only potter around but I guess anything could potentially go wrong. The young fella (4 yrs) loves doing donuts with me on my dirt bike, I feel its much safer to run them around a paddock than the road, but I would never put them on the back and actually go somewhere, just round and round a dead end street.