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"Baby boy dies after being hit by government (DoCS / FACS) car in driveway of Ipswich home"

Braxton Nowlan who was run over at his grandmothers driveway in Clarke St, Ripley.

UPDATE: A Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services spokesman has this afternoon confirmed that a department car was involved in an incident yesterday afternoon in which a young boy died..

“The department is providing the utmost care and support to both family members and staff,” he said.

“The department will review this incident and this review will also be externally scrutinised. The police are continuing their investigation and will also prepare a report for the coroner’s office.”

The Department of Child Safety said due to ongoing investigations it did not intend on commenting further.

Earlier:15 month-old boy killed yesterday when he was hit by a car reversing down the driveway of his Ipswich home has been remembered as a “happy-go-lucky” child with a “smile that could lighten up a sad face”.

Braxton James Nowlan, who would have turned two in August, was hit and killed on the driveway outside his Ripley home by a government car in the tragic accident.

The reality of the scene hits onlookers at the Ripley house where the boy was killed..   The reality of the scene hits onlookers at the Ripley house where the boy was killed..

The little boy lived in the Clarke St residence with his grandmother and his two older siblings, all of whom were at home at the time of the accident.

It is understood the small Hyundai involved is government-owned, believed to be used by the Department of Communities, and was on official business at the time of the tragedy.

A neighbour said she had seen the little boy playing outside the house yesterday morning.

“He was a happy-go-lucky little boy,” she said.

His older siblings, both younger than 10 years old, were last night staying with friends and family as they struggled to deal with the terrible event.Inspector David Preston said the vehicle was visiting the Ripley home at the time and said it was a “horrific” situation for emergency services to be confronted with.

“At approximately 1pm this afternoon a 15-month-old child appears to have been run over by a vehicle reversing out of a driveway,” he said.

“The vehicle involved is a government-owned vehicle and there are inquiries being made into that government agency at this particular time in relation to the situation as to why they were here and what was happening.”

He said the female departmental worker who was driving the vehicle had been taken to hospital and was being treated for shock.

Braxton Nowlan who died in the incident.

“At this particular time an investigation is being conducted jointly between the district Criminal Investigation Branch and our Forensic Crash Unit to determine exactly what the cause of this accident was.”The Department of Communities was contacted for comment yesterday but did not return calls.

He said ambulance crews were unable to revive the little boy.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

A friend of the family, who did not wish to be identified, last night told The Courier-Mail that Braxton was a “beautiful little boy’’.  “Sinkable eyes you fall in love with, always a happy child, had the world at his feet,’’ she said.

“It’s devastating how such a beautiful boy can be taken.

“My heart goes to his mother who … loved him so dearly and will never hold her little boy in her arms again.

“He was inquisitive like any other child with the brightest smile that could lighten up a sad face.

“An unforgettable child, I’m blessed to have known him.’’

 (Source : http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/baby-boy-dies-after-being-hit-by-government-car-in-driveway-of-ipswich-home/story-fnn8dlfs-1227182714691)

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