This story breaks my heart so badly! This happened in the town we live in! So many people in this town are devastated & blaming the mother who supposedly went out partying & didn't arrive home until 6am. The Grandmother was watching the child since the Dad does not live in the area. The Grandmother didn't know he was missing until the Mom arrived home, woke her up & asked where he was. He had since been passed for 2 hours! :( Everyone has been talking about it all day long!

http://caller.com/news/2007/nov/02/child-hit-and-killed-portland/

Child hit and killed in Portland
Child was hit by tractor-trailer
By Mike Baird
Originally published 08:15 a.m., November 2, 2007
Updated 02:28 p.m., November 2, 2007


PORTLAND — A 2-year-old boy, Jeremy Lopez, wandered from his Portland home on Lang Road at 3:26 a.m. and was struck and killed by an 18-wheeler in the 1500 block of Wildcat Drive, police said.

“Fog was a factor,” said Corp. Thomas Laughlin, the detective investigating the accident. “No charges are filed against the driver.”

The family has been notified.

:( how horrible

:( :( :(

what I dont understand is how he got out and why there werent any childproof things on the doorknobs because a 2 yr old shouldnt know how to get those open. Robbie cant even figure it out. This is truly tragic and I would be blaming the mother too for going out and partying like that all night.

:sadeyes How horrible for the family.

oh wow thats so sad, i can just imagine how they feel. I have a 2 yr old, and i'd be devestated.

my first thought as where was the person watching him!?!?!?!? so sad

my first thought as where was the person watching him!?!?!?!? so sad

well i would have assumed that the Grandmother could have fallen asleep since it happened at 3 something am.

well i would have assumed that the Grandmother could have fallen asleep since it happened at 3 something am.

yeah true. it just seems like something is left out of the story. i'm not trying to blame anyone but this could've been prevented

I wouldn't necessarily blame the mother, unless there are more facts that come out that indicate she was at fault. I don't think it matters if she was "partying", if that is the case...she had someone to watch him. It could have just as easily happened if she was gone all night on a business trip. From the facts that are given, I don't see any reason she should be blamed.

that is so sad. i hate hearing stuff like this. my sister and cousin were both killed by being hit by vehicles. it kinda hits home to me.

what I dont understand is how he got out and why there werent any childproof things on the doorknobs because a 2 yr old shouldnt know how to get those open. Robbie cant even figure it out. This is truly tragic and I would be blaming the mother too for going out and partying like that all night.

If the child was staying with grandma just for the night, but doesn't LIVE with her, there'd be no reason to go to those measures. If DD stayed with my parents, I wouldn't expect them to go out and buy doorknob covers for one night. Some probably would, but I think it's extreme. IF my DD were known for getting up and sleepwalking or running around in the middle of the night, I may feel differently.

I think playing the blame game right now is cruel. On top of that, it really doesn't matter WHAT the mother was doing - she was out partying, but she could just as easily have been working nights somewhere. She made sure her child was being taken care of by a responsible adult. Was grandma supposed to stay up all night watching the child? My child has known how to operate the deadbolts on our door since she turned 2. I know this - she's locked me out of the house more than once when I have gone out into the garage for something. In this case, I can't see that it's anyones fault - my heart breaks for EVERYONE involved, including the driver of the tractor trailer. Can you imagine driving down the road at 3:30 am and suddenly there's a toddler in your headlights?!? :no :sadeyes

That is absolutely devastating! :sadeyes

what I dont understand is how he got out and why there werent any childproof things on the doorknobs because a 2 yr old shouldnt know how to get those open. Robbie cant even figure it out. This is truly tragic and I would be blaming the mother too for going out and partying like that all night.

The apartments they live in have a sliding glass door & that is how he got out! And apparently the Mom knew he knew how to unlock the sliding glass doors but probably forgot to tell the Grandma.

I don't know the whole story. I'm only going by what I've been told. I keep saying apparently since I don't know the story first hand!

Anyway, the only things that have not changed from this story that I've heard are that the child was recently returned to the Mom after being taken away by CPS. The Grandma is quite elderly with many medical issues. The Mom goes out partying on most nights, sometimes not returning for days. There are no other family members that can watch the child. The Dad just recently got out of the military & took a job in another city. He was working on getting custody but it had not gone through, yet!

Again, these are things I don't know are true or not, only what I was told.

I am so glad charges are not going to be brought against the driver of the truck. The fog here was awful this mnorning when I went to work at 7:30. It was still difficult to see even with my fog lights on. I can only imagine it was much worse hours before that!

How sad and heartbreaking. That poor truck driver must be so upset, as well as the family.



what I dont understand is how he got out and why there werent any childproof things on the doorknobs because a 2 yr old shouldnt know how to get those open. Robbie cant even figure it out. This is truly tragic and I would be blaming the mother too for going out and partying like that all night.
For real? I know 2 year olds who can break out of the child proof things. Its really not THAT hard. You're really trying to blame the mom??? :wow Wow, that is so messed up. She isnt allowed a night off?

my first thought as where was the person watching him!?!?!?!? so sad
:lol Unless you tie your kid to you, you are NOT going to be able to watch them 24/7 Jill. :wink

I don't know the whole story. I'm only going by what I've been told. I keep saying apparently since I don't know the story first hand!

Anyway, the only things that have not changed from this story that I've heard are that the child was recently returned to the Mom after being taken away by CPS. The Grandma is quite elderly with many medical issues. The Mom goes out partying on most nights, sometimes not returning for days. There are no other family members that can watch the child. The Dad just recently got out of the military & took a job in another city. He was working on getting custody but it had not gone through, yet!

Again, these are things I don't know are true or not, only what I was told.

Ya know what they say about rumors though. Its not right to be spreading things that you have been "told" and unproven facts. It would be such ashame if none of this is true, yet that is what the whole area is thinking because of rumors. :no

:tears:faint:no:sadeyes

How sad and heartbreaking. That poor truck driver must be so upset, as well as the family.




For real? I know 2 year olds who can break out of the child proof things. Its really not THAT hard. Your really trying to blame the mom??? :wow Wow, that is so messed up. She isnt allowed a night off?


:lol Unless you tie your kid to you, you are NOT going to be able to watch them 24/7 Jill. :wink

i'm aware of that thanks. it's a horrible tragedy but i think there is more to the story than what was in the article

i'm aware of that thanks. it's a horrible tragedy but i think there is more to the story than what was in the article

Just replying to your post :) You said your first thought was where was the person watching him. That was my reply :D

:( :(

If the child was staying with grandma just for the night, but doesn't LIVE with her, there'd be no reason to go to those measures. If DD stayed with my parents, I wouldn't expect them to go out and buy doorknob covers for one night. Some probably would, but I think it's extreme. IF my DD were known for getting up and sleepwalking or running around in the middle of the night, I may feel differently.

I think playing the blame game right now is cruel. On top of that, it really doesn't matter WHAT the mother was doing - she was out partying, but she could just as easily have been working nights somewhere. She made sure her child was being taken care of by a responsible adult. Was grandma supposed to stay up all night watching the child? My child has known how to operate the deadbolts on our door since she turned 2. I know this - she's locked me out of the house more than once when I have gone out into the garage for something. In this case, I can't see that it's anyones fault - my heart breaks for EVERYONE involved, including the driver of the tractor trailer. Can you imagine driving down the road at 3:30 am and suddenly there's a toddler in your headlights?!? :no :sadeyes

Very well said.

Just replying to your post :) You said your first thought was where was the person watching him. That was my reply :D

i also said that's my first thought, my knee jerk reaction.

Nevermind! I am not going to debate, justify or try to defend what I said.

omg that's horrible. :sadeyes :tears

Ya know what they say about rumors though. Its not right to be spreading things that you have been "told" and unproven facts. It would be such ashame if none of this is true, yet that is what the whole area is thinking because of rumors. :no

well if what has been said is indeed true then yes I think the mother should be blamed for her actions. She also failed to possibly tell the grandmother about her child knowing how to get out the sliding door. If this isnt true and the mother isnt a partying mom then I wouldnt blame her to a degree. I definitely do not blame the truck driver at all.

Put it this way If and only If the Grandmother was truly that elderly and had medical issues the child really should be left in her care. I dont think she should have to stay up all night expecting the child to get out of his bed in the middle of the night either. I certainly never stayed up late at night anticipating my child was going to wake up and go out the door. If the mother only went out for the night partying and that was it thats fine and dandy but did she have to stay out that late??? I as a responsible mother would not have gone out and stayed out that late. I think she has the right to go out but not to stay out that late and if this is true and she goes out alot like this then yes I think its very wrong. Until we know the true facts this is only based on our opinions and the conclusions we might draw from it.

If the child was staying with grandma just for the night, but doesn't LIVE with her, there'd be no reason to go to those measures. If DD stayed with my parents, I wouldn't expect them to go out and buy doorknob covers for one night. Some probably would, but I think it's extreme. IF my DD were known for getting up and sleepwalking or running around in the middle of the night, I may feel differently.

I think playing the blame game right now is cruel. On top of that, it really doesn't matter WHAT the mother was doing - she was out partying, but she could just as easily have been working nights somewhere. She made sure her child was being taken care of by a responsible adult. Was grandma supposed to stay up all night watching the child? My child has known how to operate the deadbolts on our door since she turned 2. I know this - she's locked me out of the house more than once when I have gone out into the garage for something. In this case, I can't see that it's anyones fault - my heart breaks for EVERYONE involved, including the driver of the tractor trailer. Can you imagine driving down the road at 3:30 am and suddenly there's a toddler in your headlights?!? :no :sadeyes



I wasnt trying to be cruel by blaming the mother for her actions but if she knew that the child could get out of the sliding glass door then she should have at least tried to childproof it somehow if that was even possible. The child was in his own home so it should be childproofed somewhat at least. I never even blamed the truck driver. I agree with who expects to see a 2 yr old out in the street at 3am in the morning.

Nevermind! I am not going to debate, justify or try to defend what I said.

I agree with you.

That's so awful.. How did a 2 yr old get out of the home without the parents/caregiver knowing?? It's tragic, but makes you wonder about things.

A couple years back a little girl ran out in front of our truck there on Lang by Portland Contessa apartments.. Thank goodness DH was watching or else he would have hit her. No parents were around, she was outside with her brother and some other children.

Sadly though this could have happened even if the mom was home :(

All of us who are parents know how sneaky kids can be at times......Q even got out of the house on me one day and we were awake, it takes one second of doing anything for it to happen.

I really feel for that whole family :(

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