Experts are emphasizing the importance of car seats for children while police investigate whether a 4-year-old killed in a New Haven rollover crash was properly restrained.
Kamorah Stanley and another child were ejected from the SUV they were riding in when the vehicle rolled over on Interstate 91 in New Haven on Saturday, according to police.
Kamorah died, and the other child was injured, along with six other people in the SUV, most of whom were family members, police said.
"All other occupants in the vehicle had sustained some sort of injury, mostly minor injuries, with the exception with the fatality of the 4-year-old girl," said state police spokesman Trooper First Class Kelly Grant.
Grant said police are still investigating whether safety restraints were used in the vehicle.
Kevin Borup, associate director of the Injury Prevention Center at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, said every person should be restrained. The safest place for children is the back seat.
"In Connecticut, all children should be in a car seat until they're 7 [years old] and 60 pounds," said Borup.
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Borup said children under 2 years old should be in a car seat that faces the rear of the car to reduce strain to the neck and head if an accident occurs.
Research shows children have a 50 percent higher survival rate if they wear a child safety restraint.
"If you’re unrestrained, you're going to bounce around in the vehicle hitting the part of the vehicle, hitting other passengers and if you’re unlucky, ejected from the vehicle," said Borup.
The driver of the vehicle on I-91 has not been charged, but Grant said that could change.
"Charges are going to be pending depending on what the troopers are going to find in their investigation," Grant said.
