1-year-old chasing after family dog is hit by 2 vehicles and killed, FL cops say

A toddler chasing after the family dog into the road was struck by two vehicles in succession and killed, according to Florida authorities.

The Daytona Beach Police Department said officers got a call about a pedestrian hit by a vehicle shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, and found a 1-year-old child with “severe injuries.”

Officers reported they learned the family pet had escaped from the home, and the 1-year-old boy went after it.

The child ran into oncoming traffic and was hit by a Honda CRV, followed by a pickup truck, Bill Rhodes with the police department said in a news conference broadcast by WOFL.

The toddler was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead, while the dog wasn’t hit, police said. The boy’s parents and the drivers were all cooperating.

Rhodes said it appears the father was working on the sprinkler system outside, with the mom’s whereabouts unknown, when the dog managed to open a door and the boy followed, according to investigators.

“At this point, preliminarily, it seems to be just a very tragic accident,” Rhodes said during the news conference.

The investigation is ongoing.

This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 12:13 PM with the headline "1-year-old chasing after family dog is hit by 2 vehicles and killed, FL cops say."