Child dies after tumble from second-story window

Discover what experts recommend to prevent a tragedy – like this one in Powellhurst-Gilbert – from taking place …

An AMR ambulance transports a 3-year-old boy to the hospital, after a second-story accidental fall onto concrete.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A 3-year-old boy briefly fought for life before dying from head injuries he sustained when he fell from a second story window at about 4:00 p.m. on September 21.

Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers first responded to a private vehicle at SE 113th Avenue and Division Street which was reportedly taking the seriously child to the hospital, said PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson.

“When officers and medical personnel arrived at the scene, they met the family with the child,” Simpson said. “The boy was then transported to a Portland hospital by ambulance for treatment of life-threatening injuries.”

Officers learned that the fall actually occurred at a residence in the 2600 block of SE 125th Avenue.

Officials say the youngster fell from a window, while playing with youngsters.

“A family member said the boy fell from a second-story window and landed on the concrete below the window,” Simpson said.

“This tragic incident appears to have been an accidental fall while the child was playing with other children in an upstairs bedroom,” Simpson added.

Notwithstanding the life-saving efforts of the emergency first responders and the medical staff at a Portland hospital, the boy died that evening.

“Detectives assigned to the Child Abuse Team were notified, as is standard protocol with these types of incidents,” Simpson later revealed. “But, at this point, there is no indication that this incident is anything but a tragic accident.”

After learning of the incident, Randall Children’s Hospital and Portland Fire & Rescue offered safety tips to help prevent more such accidents:

Keep play away from windows.
Only allow windows to open 4 inches, and install window stops and/or window guards that can be removed by an adult in an emergency.
Lock windows when not in use.
Open windows from the top and use a window stop for the bottom.
Prevent climbing. Keep furniture and anything a child can climb on away from windows.
Actively watch children near windows.

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