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Witness describes heartbreaking scene in Draper after toddler hit by SUV dies

Posted at 5:16 PM, Apr 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-11 19:16:18-04

DRAPER, Utah - Officers have identified the 3-year-old boy killed after he was hit by a car in Draper as Tanner Ault.

Officers said speed doesn't seem to be a factor in the accident.

They said the person who hit the child appeared to be driving at the speed limit or below.

Neighbors on the Draper street are still in shock after the toddler died Saturday evening.

Draper police said the boy and his family were at a friend’s home near 700 West and 11688 South celebrating a baptism and left around 7:15 p.m.

The family was going to cross the street to their car when a white SUV passed by.

Courtesy of Ault family

Courtesy of Ault family

"A 3-year-old boy darted out into traffic,and was struck by the vehicle," Sgt. Michael Street said.

Residents can’t shake what they saw.

"The scene hits you all at once,” Brian Adair said, who lives across the street. “There's two men in white shirts working on the boy, doing compressions and breathing for him. He was laying in the middle of the street."

Adair said he was first alerted after hearing the mother’s reaction right after the crash.

"We heard a mom just lamenting, extremely loud, just wailing," he said.

He immediately rushed over to help.

"Everyone was in shock," he said. "All the neighbors were out."

They couldn’t revive the boy, who suffered head trauma.

Sgt. Street said a Life Flight helicopter flew the toddler to Primary Children’s Hospital, where he passed away less than an hour later.

Police haven’t filed any citations or charges against the 49-year-old driver of the SUV.

"It just seems to be a freak coincidence,” Sgt. Street said. “Wrong place at the wrong time, as far as both parties are concerned."

While Adair didn’t know the child or family, thinking of those frantic, helpless moments left him emotional.

"Just to feel everyone's help and concern… it's overwhelming,” he said. “To feel that, and the love and concern for just a small child."

He said he can only imagine what the family, and driver, are now going through.

"I feel for the family, I do,” he said, adding, “They are in my prayers."

He said the Collision Analysis Reconstruction (CAR) Unit is continuing to investigate the crash.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Tanner's funeral expenses if you would like to help.