Mother, Child Injured In Car Crash

ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- A toddler who was not restrained in a safety seat and his mother were hurt Sunday in a downtown Escondido traffic accident, an Escondido police officer said.

The 3-year-old boy was in the back of an SUV driven by his teenage sister, who lost control when pulling out of a grocery store parking lot at 225 W. Washington Ave. around 8:25 a.m. The SUV struck a light pole across the street, Officer Scott Christensen said.

The boy, who was not in a car seat or wearing a seat belt, struck something inside the car with his head, but the injury does not appear to be life-threatening, Christensen said.

The officer said the child's mother, who was sitting in the front seat, reported back pain.

The driver and another teenage girl in the car were not injured.

Christensen said he would like witnesses to the crash to call him at 760-839-4722.

Escondido police also need to hear from witnesses to a fatal traffic accident that took place Friday on El Norte Parkway at Vista Verde Way. The 4 p.m. crash took the life of 55-year-old Shawn McFate of Escondido.