A Silver Springs woman delivering donations on behalf of the Juvenile Probation Department struck and killed a toddler Wednesday afternoon as she backed out of a Stagecoach driveway.
Carolyn Ziegler, 61, had just dropped off food to a home in the 9200 block of Santa Fe Trail just before 4 p.m. when she backed into 17-month-old Zackery Lacombe, who had followed his mother outside to greet the visitor, said officials.
Lyon County Detective Sgt. Cherie Rye said Ziegler realized she had hit something and was out of her county-owned 2007 Dodge Ram SUV when the boy's mother, 19-year-old Cassandra Carpenter, began screaming.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
"This is the true definition of a horrific accident," said Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Chuck Allen. "The mother is grieving immensely, and I feel as equally compassionate for the driver. This is just a sad story."
According to Paula Smith, chief deputy of the Lyon County Juvenile Probation Department, Ziegler is a juvenile community supervisor who oversees juveniles on probation as they perform community service work at the food bank in Dayton.
As part of her duties, twice a month Ziegler delivers food to families who cannot get to the food bank on their own, said Smith.
Rye said it appears that when Carpenter went outside to meet Ziegler, Zackery and his 3-year-old sister followed. As the Carpenter carried the items back into the home she shares with her mother, Ziegler backed out of her parking space and ran over the child. The 3-year-old was not injured or involved.
The Lyon County Sheriff's Department requested the accident be investigated by the Nevada Highway Patrol, which has a specialized Major Accident Investigation Team, because of the involvement of a county worker.
Chris Perry, deputy director of the Department of Public Safety, which encompasses the Highway Patrol, came to the scene along with Lyon County Undersheriff Joe Sanford, Lyon County detectives, state troopers and a sheriff's chaplain.
"Cases like these with children are the worst," said a solemn Perry, echoing the repeated sentiments of his comrades at the scene. "You remember every one."
