Toddler Fatally Struck by Own Mother’s Car Outside West Park Residence
On Monday afternoon, Ericka Cante Hernandez, 33, was reversing her 2024 Chevrolet Suburban out of the driveway of her Allen Road home in West Park when her 19-month-old son, Wilson Matias Jr., slipped out of the house unnoticed.
She never saw him.
Wilson was rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Broward Sheriff’s Office confirmed the crash appears accidental. The investigation remains ongoing.
A Family That Loved Their Kids
Neighbors described the Hernandez family as deeply family-oriented and kids were never outside without a parent watching.
“They just love they kids, they play with the water, they play with balloons. They’re just a family that really, really is family-oriented,” one neighbor told NBC Miami.
Wilson’s aunt said he was beautiful, hyper, and not even 2 yet. His mother, she said, keeps asking for her son back. There is nothing else she can say.
Investigation and Community Response
BSO spokesperson Carey Codd confirmed the mother had no idea her son had exited the home and entered the vehicle’s path.
West Park’s mayor visited the family. No charges have been filed. Detectives say they believe this was accidental, but the case stays open.
Why This Matters and It Happens Every Single Week
Most people hear a story like this and think it was a freak accident. It isn’t.
According to Kids and Car Safety, at least 50 children are backed over in the U.S. every week. Of those, 48 are treated in emergency rooms and 2 die. In over 70% of these incidents, the driver is a parent or close relative. The most common victim age is 12 to 23 months old.
Wilson was 19 months old. A 2024 SUV. His own mother behind the wheel. This is not a statistical outlier. This is the pattern.
Just recently, a car crash in Gnesen Township knocked out power for over 100 homes in one night, a reminder of how fast a single vehicle incident absorbs an entire neighborhood.
And when a fire truck crashed into a New York home and displaced 5 residents, that family had zero warning either.
Vehicles near homes are a real, recurring threat and driveways are where it starts.
The Blind Zone Nobody Warns You About
Large SUVs have a rear blind zone that can hide a small child completely, even just a few feet away. A backup camera helps, but it won’t catch a toddler who darts out mid-reverse.
Child safety researchers even have a name for what likely happened here. It is called “Bye-Bye Syndrome.” Toddlers hear someone leaving and silently follow, ending up directly behind the vehicle before anyone realizes they are outside.
This same split-second scenario has played out in neighborhoods across the country. Just weeks ago, a Lamborghini crashed into a Miramar home after a shooting, again showing how a vehicle can become a deadly hazard with no warning for the people nearby.
Safe Kids Broward County expert Rachele Solomon said it clearly: technology alone cannot prevent every tragedy. The basics still matter.
For home safety news and stories like this as they break, there’s a WhatsApp channel worth having.
What Every Caregiver Needs to Do
Before reversing any vehicle, especially an SUV or truck, walk completely around your car first. Install a high door lock or alarm on any home exit that leads to the driveway.
Never rely solely on your backup camera. Keep kids directly supervised until the car has fully cleared the property.
These habits take 30 seconds. They can save a life.
Final Thoughts
Wilson Matias Jr. was loved. His family was present. And this still happened.
That’s what makes driveway safety a home safety issue and not just a traffic one.
Did you know about driveway blind zones before reading this? Most parents don’t. Drop your thoughts in the comments. Someone reading this might need that reminder today.
For more home safety stories that actually matter, follow Build Like New on X and Facebook.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, based on reports from the Broward Sheriff’s Office and local media. The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed.
