Five year old dies following tractor accident in Flagstaff

Boy fatally injured after running behind tractor driven by his father

Flagstaff AZ- A five year old boy who lived in the Timberline area died last night from injuries he sustained after he was back over by a tractor operated by his father. On Wednesday, July 20, at about 6:30 p.m. the Northern Arizona Regional 9-1-1 reception center received a report of a child who was not breathing. Coconino County Sheriff's deputies, Summit Fire District, and Guardian Medical Transport were dispatched to the scene.


A neighbor who witnessed the accident gave the child cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and medical first responders from Guardian and Summit Fire continued life saving efforts at the scene.  The child was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center , a Level One Trauma Center , where emergency room physicians continued life saving efforts.  Unfortunately, despite all the efforts of medical personnel, the child died as a result of the injuries he sustained.

Coconino County Sheriff detectives are continuing this investigation.  According to witnesses, the child’s father was operating a large tractor at their home with his children several hundred feet behind him playing with some family animals. As he was pulling out of his driveway onto the street, he saw a vehicle approaching and backed into the drive to allow the vehicle to pass.  The child’s father then saw his son in the area of the left front tire.  It is believed the child ran behind the tractor and his father did not see him until it was too late.

At this point in the investigation, detectives believe this was a tragic accident and no enforcement action is anticipated.