A 4-year-old boy was struck and killed Tuesday by a snow-plowing vehicle driven by his father at the family's home in western Wisconsin, authorities said.
The incident occurred shortly before noon Tuesday in the 1000 block of 238th Avenue in Star Prairie Township, a few miles north of New Richmond in St. Croix County, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The boy was identified as Collin Fitzgerald.
His father, Daniel Fitzgerald, had intended to plow the family's driveway while Collin played in a snow fort in the front yard. Daniel Fitzgerald watched as his son made his way to the fort and then he started plowing.
While plowing, Daniel Fitzgerald noticed that snow had built up in front of the garage so he partially pulled into the garage and then backed up, using his plow to pull snow from the area. He noticed blood on the snow, looked closer and saw that Collin had been injured.
Daniel Fitzgerald called for help and attempted life-saving measures on his son. But Collin was pronounced dead after being transported to Westfields Hospital in New Richmond, Wis. It was determined that he had received massive head injuries as a result of being run over by the pickup truck his father was driving.
"This is one of the most tragic events that anyone could ever have to deal with," said St. Croix County Sheriff John Shilts, calling the incident an accident.
