CHELSEA, Maine — A toddler has died after she was struck by a tow truck while playing outside Wednesday afternoon.
At approximately 2:23 p.m., Maine State Police responded to Windsor Road for a child who had been struck by a tow truck, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Public Safety.
An initial investigation revealed the 21-month-old child was playing outside a Windsor Road home when she "wandered into the roadway and laid down," the release said.
The child was reportedly struck by a 2007 GMC flatbed tow truck headed northbound and driven by a 62-year-old male. "The driver did not realize that it was a child laying in the road until the vehicle struck her," according to the release.
CPR was performed by witnesses and police until fire and rescue crews arrived at the scene. The toddler was reportedly brought to Maine General Hospital and was pronounced dead.
"It's just tragic. There was so many first responders ambulances, firetrucks, state troopers," Theresa Thompson, a neighbor, told NEWS CENTER Maine. "I mean you know it was something really tragic going on to have that kind of response. I've never seen that many responders in vehicles come down through here like that."
"It's so tragic for everyone that responded, [including] the tow truck driver," Thompson continued. "I mean I thought about it all night long. I can only imagine for the people that were right there trying to help."
The investigation is ongoing.