Infant killed in a road accident after her dad failed to secure her with seat belt or put her in car seat
Baby Nylah Online died when her father's BMW crashed and she was thrown from the car, killing her instantly
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA: A helpless infant died when her father's BMW crashed and she was thrown out from it. The baby girl's father had failed to place her in a baby seat or even secure her with a seatbelt in the car.
The horrific smash that killed the infant, named Nylah Online, occurred on the afternoon of September 17 in Goodyear, Arizona.
Her father Larry, 30, who was the driver, was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, and his condition is unknown as police investigate the tragic incident.
Driver was not impaired though speeding has not been ruled out
The Goodyear Fire Department and the Arizona Fire and Medical Authority responded to the devastating single-vehicle crash at about 12.20 pm. Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver was not impaired, though speeding, as the cause of the crash, has not been ruled out.
According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, no car seat was found in the vehicle, and neither passenger was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, as reported by DailyMail.
Family has started GoFundMe page
The family started a GoFundMe page. The statement on the campaign page reads, "Hello everyone, it is with a heavy heart today we ask for your help to raise money to help Cinthya our niece with funeral expenses for their sweet angel Nylah and to help with medical costs as Larry heals in hospital care."
The statement added, "She is a stay at home Mom and cared for Nylah everyday, while Larry was the sole income source for their family. Please pray for the Lawal/Luna/Zamora family in these difficult moments. We thank you in advance, God bless!"
They have raised $6,550 of their $20,000 goal so far.
Neighbors mourn tragedy 'close to home'
As concerned neighbors grappled with the tragedy that unfolded near their homes, the mangled remains of the vehicle were escorted away from the crash site.
Emily Luetke, who lives nearby, said to the outlet, "My condolences and prayers go out to their families and everyone affected. That's so so sad, Just absolutely devastating it's so sad, and it sucks that it's so close to home, too, and it's scary."
Luetke, added, "You always got to be very careful when you're driving. Perryville Road was closed for close to six hours while crews worked to clear the scene. It has since reopened."
The car accident occurred near a straight, residential road, making it difficult for people to make sense of the incident, which occurred in broad daylight.
It comes as the Goodyear Police Department is promoting Child Passenger Safety Week, including proper car seat usage and child safety tips.
Goodyear Police emphasized the importance of keeping infants rear-facing for as long as possible and warned against leaving a child unattended in a parked car.
It's still unclear why the child wasn't properly seated or buckled.
