(Near KINGSTON, Kitsap County) -- A 2 year-old boy was killed instantly this afternoon
during a backhoe accident near here. Apparently, the child had been riding along with his
father as the man operated the heavy equipment. The backhoe rolled onto its side, and the
boy was entrapped underneath.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) crews were dispatched to a private residence
off of SR 104 between Highland and Miller Bay Roads at 1:50pm. Firefighters and medics
arrived at the scene -- less than one-half mile from the district's headquarters fire
station -- within minutes but found that there was nothing they could do to save the
child.
The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office also responded to the scene to investigate the cause
of the incident.
Although this incident was unusually sad for responding crews -- many of whom are also
parents of small children, NKF&R Fire Chief Paul Nichol says, "Our thoughts are
with the child's family and, in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, we hope that their
privacy will be respected."
