LEILAH DAWN COADY - 3 yo - Waldorf, MD

Girl Killed by Garage Door Identified

Girl's mother discovered her pinned underneath door

Sunday, Apr 7, 2013 | Updated 5:10 PM EDT

A three-year-old girl was killed by a garage door in Charles County Friday afternoon, police confirmed.

It happened at around 4 p.m. in the 2900 block of Eutaw Forest Drive in Waldorf.

Authorities believe the little girl, identified as Leilah Dawn Coady, hit the garage door's control button, which was within reach on the wall, and tried to run out of the garage underneath the descending door. The girl's mother, who had heard the garage door close, became suspicious that no one had come into the house and and went out to find her daughter pinned under the door.

Coady was taken to Civista Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Police are investigating the case as an accidental death, possibly due to asphyxiation. Police tested the door's sensors to determine why the girl's presence was not detected. Investigators are also testing whether the door was functioning properly.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Small-Girl-Dies-in-Garage-Door-Accident-in-Charles-County-201698951.html

This might be hard to see as neglect. Children can so often slip off and do things without a parent knowing what's up. It's the responsibility of the care giver to keep the child safe. This could had been prevented by several things. First, not letting the child out of sight. Second placing the sensor of the garage door at ground level not the six inches. Third, teaching the child NOT to play with the door, for any reason. Even though it was a grand parents house, still teach them right. I shed a tear for the little angel. William