Accident claims life of Sisters child

An 18-month-old child was killed Wednesday, October 8, when he apparently ran behind a sport utility truck that was backing out of a driveway in Tollgate.

According to a Deschutes County sheriff's deputy who responded to the scene, Adam Spencer was running around in the yard at 69369 Silver Spur, and "somehow slipped in behind the rig" driven by 23-year-old Chelsie Hoyt.

The deputy reported that the child was struck by the left rear tire of the Nissan Pathfinder. Medics attempted to resuscitate the child and transported him to St. Charles Medical Center, where hospital staff pronounced him deceased.

According to the deputy, a Bend RFPD chaplain met the child's mother at the hospital, and a Sisters RFPD chaplain was on hand to help the driver, whom the deputy described as "very, very, shaken."

No citations were issued in what the deputy described as a "freak accident." The deputy reported that he had talked to the family and they "seemed to be doing as well as can be expected."