Car defect blamed for boy’s death

A defect in a 1999 Chrysler Sebring is being blamed for the death last week of a 6-year-old boy in north Fayette County.

The vehicle had a defective ignition park interlock that caused it to slip out of park, roll down a driveway and strike the victim, said Capt. Brian Eubanks of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

Chrysler had issued a recall on the ignition park interlock in 2004, Eubanks said.

The keys were not in the car’s ignition at the time of the Feb. 17 incident at 524 Westbridge Dr. Although the victim’s 9-year-old sister was in the vehicle at the time, her presence is not believed to be a factor in the accident, deputies have said.

The vehicle rolled down the driveway and struck the boy before it came to rest against a tree.

The sheriff’s office will not be filing any criminal charges in connection with the incident, Eubanks said.