FAYETTEVILLE, NC — Authorities in Fayetteville are urging parents and caregivers to review child passenger safety after a crash earlier this week killed two children and critically injured another. Officials said none of the children in Wednesday’s Cedar Creek Road wreck was properly restrained.
Investigators also said the child’s mother was driving 111 mph when the crash happened. While no safety device can prevent every injury, local experts said the right seat and proper fit can still make a major difference.
Why Fit Matters
RN Stacey Koonce of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center said one of the biggest mistakes she sees is moving a child out of a booster seat too soon. She said children should stay in a booster until the seat belt lies correctly across the body instead of riding up near the neck.
Mary Anne Murphy of the Fayetteville Fire Department said a properly installed seat should be snug enough that the fabric cannot be pinched. If it can be pinched, she said, the harness is too loose.
What Experts Say
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says half of children ages 8 to 12 who died in crashes in 2023 were not buckled up. Local health and safety groups said that statistic is one reason they keep pushing education before a crash happens…