Toddler avoids tragedy

On Nov. 14, Matt Grubb, 2 and a half years old, was run over in the driveway of his home after Levi Whitfield lost control of his vehicle on Range View Ave. According to the Saratoga police, Whitfield was not cited for the accident, as poor road conditions were to blame.

Carly Grubb, Matt’s mother, said he ended up pinned under the front axle of the car after Whitfield slid down the hill in front of their house and ended up in the driveway

Carly said that she and her children (Sophia, 7 years old, Haley, 6 years old, and Matt) were outside playing in the snow and shoveling the driveway as a way to get out of the house while the weather was a little warmer than it had been. Matthew had been near the edge of the driveway and was walking back toward Carly when she heard the car coming. Carly said she turned around to make sure she knew where the children were and saw the car run over Matt.

Whitfield said he attempted to stop at the stop sign at the top of the hill, and his car began sliding sideways. He saw the children at the Grubb’s house but was unable to stop before running into their driveway.

The street had not been plowed or sanded since the last snow.

According to Carly, Whitfield acted heroically and had his car jacked up in order to remove Matt within five minutes of the accident.

Matt received only minor injuries including a bruise on his forehead and a light burn on one arm.

Ed Shiels, a physicians assistant, at the Platte Valley Clinic heard the emergency call on the clinics radio and went to the scene to offer assistance. Shiels said he arrived within 10 minutes of hearing the call and Matt was already out from under the car and in his mother’s arms. Matt was responsive and calm.

As a precaution Matt was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hospital of Carbon County and released later that day.

As of press time the town of Saratoga has not responded to questions about the protocol for plowing and sanding neighborhood streets.

The city did not plow or sand Range View Ave. after Saturday night’s snow and the road is again icy.

Editor’s note: get the parent’s reactions and more interviews with those involved on page 6.