COHASSET, MASS. (WHDH) - An investigation was launched in Cohasset Thursday after a 2-year-old boy died from injuries suffered in an apparent accident at a local auto body shop, police said.
State and local police, as well as personnel from the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office could be seen on South Main Street as of around 3:30 p.m., with a number of police cruisers spotted and caution tape in place around Hajj Auto Service.
According to Cohasset Chief of Police William Quigley, it was around 12:40 p.m. when a man rushed from the auto body shop to the nearby police station while carrying his injured grandson and seeking help.
Quigley said the child had a serious head injury and was soon taken to South Shore Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“At this point, there doesn’t appear to be anything nefarious,” Quigley told reporters Thursday afternoon.
Quigley described the incident as a tragedy and asked locals to keep the family in their thoughts.
“This is a family that’s been in town, has had this garage in town for many years, and at this point, I’d ask the residents in town to get behind these folks – it’s clearly a difficult time for them and they should be in everybody’s prayers,” he said.
Officials said the cause of the boy’s injuries appeared to be an accident, saying the grandfather, a co-owner of the auto body shop, had been working with a piece of construction equipment in a back lot when the child was injured.
Authorities were seen taking photos of the area around a small front end loader with its cab roof extended in the upright position Thursday afternoon. While they worked, investigators were seen focusing their attention, in part, on a yellow bucket on the ground as they looked into whether the bucket somehow fell on the young boy.
Police said the child who died was set to turn three in September.
Speaking with 7NEWS, area business owner Mel McLaughlin said the grandfather in this incident frequently had his grandson in tow, teaching him lessons to carry through life.
“He just loved him,” McLaughlin said. “You could see it in his eyes.”
McLaughlin owns the Barrel Country Market across the street from Hajj Auto Service.
“It’s a tragic event that happened,” she said.
In addition to the young child, police said an ambulance was called for one other person who reportedly had chest pains after witnessing what had happened to the child. Police also said one officer needed to be sent home.
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WATCH: Authorities provide update on death investigation of a 2-year-old child in Cohasset
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