"Attending traffic crashes are traumatic at the best of times for attending police… but even more so when it involves a child," said Detective Acting Inspector Kent Ellis
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NEED TO KNOW
- Aneshia Case and Samuel Ian Paterson, the parents of a 3-year-old child who died after a car crash in Australia, have been charged in connection with his death
- Following an investigation, police said they determined that Aneshia had been behind the wheel of the car when it crashed into bushland in Stapylton, Australia, on Oct. 25
- Paterson, who fled the scene of the crash, and Casey, were later taken into custody and were both charged with manslaughter, (domestic violence offense against a child) and trafficking in dangerous drugs
The parents of a 3-year-old child who died following a car crash in Australia have been charged in connection with his death.
Queensland Police Service said it began investigating Samuel Ian Paterson and Aneshia Case after the 3-year-old boy, Caden Case, was brought to the Beenleigh police station with significant injuries in October, according to Australian Broadcast Corporation, 9 News and 7 News.
Police alleged, per the outlets, that Aneshia, who had been 22 at the time, had been driving with a then 24-year-old Paterson along with their toddler when the car crashed into bushland in Stapylton, Australia, at about 5 a.m. local time on Oct. 25.
A witness took Aneshia and the toddler to Beenleigh Police Station. When they arrived, officers performed CPR on the 3-year-old but were unable to revive him, according to the outlets.
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Police alleged, per 7 News and 9 News, that after the crash, Paterson fled the scene with a 1-year-old boy, who was uninjured. The pair was then found at a nearby address in Beenleigh, Australia, and the child was taken to a local hospital for assessment, according to the outlets.
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As for Paterson, he was taken into custody for related offenses, including breach of bail, 7 News reported.
Detective Acting Inspector Kent Ellis told ABC that several months after the crash, they were able to make a breakthrough in the case.
"[We did] extensive forensic and mechanical investigations, analysis of physical evidence, extensive analysis of CCTV, digital and additional intelligence enquiries. As a result of that work, police were able to determine the then-22-year-old woman was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash,” Ellis told the outlet.
Aneshia was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 26, and charged with manslaughter, (domestic violence offense against a child), trafficking in dangerous drugs, driving a motor vehicle without a driver's license and possessing items used in the commission of a crime, according to ABC and 7 News.
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Paterson, who has been in police custody since October, was charged with manslaughter, (domestic violence offense against a child) and trafficking in dangerous drugs, per the outlets.
Queensland Police Service did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
"Attending traffic crashes are traumatic at the best of times for attending police and first responders, but even more so when it involves a child," Ellis told ABC, adding that the child’s extended family would continue to have the police’s support.
He said the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
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