Toddler hit, killed by vehicle after wandering from Cleveland Co. home

CLEVELAND COUNTY, NC — State troopers are trying to figure out how and why a young child apparently wandered away from his home in the pre-dawn hours Monday morning before being hit and killed by a vehicle in rural Cleveland County.

“Bruce and Bruce are now in in heaven.”
A minister for the family of the toddler hit and killed on South Post Road today said he was named after a grandfather that died 8 years ago. Bruce Fleming got out his home and was hit by 2 cars. He would have turned 3 years old Saturday. pic.twitter.com/OIUuhqor6O
— Ken (@kenlemonWSOC9) October 31, 2018

State troopers told Channel 9 they were investigating the deadly crash, which happened around 6 a.m. in the 1800 block of S. Post Road, in the Patterson Springs community, just south of Shelby.

They said a toddler was killed after being struck by a vehicle.

A child was hit by a car and killed on South Post Road just south of Shelby. @NCSHP is investigating. I’m on the scene talking to them to learn more about what happened. The road is closed from Creek Ridge Road to the turn at Highway 226 leading to Grover. pic.twitter.com/8lRQzb6Hrz
— Ken (@kenlemonWSOC9) October 31, 2018

[IMAGES: Road closed after child hit, killed by vehicle in Cleveland County]

Officials identified the toddler as 2-year-old Bruce Fleming. Reporter Ken Lemon learned Bruce was named after his grandfather, who died eight years ago, and was going to turn three on Saturday.

The child hit & killed by a driver on South Post Road just south of Shelby would have turned 3 years old this weekend. He apparently wondered away from a home nearby at about 6 this morning. He was wearing a dark shirt when a driver hit him. @NCSHP is investigating. pic.twitter.com/eSJ3Glx9VZ
— Ken (@kenlemonWSOC9) October 31, 2018

Troopers said it appeared the boy wandered away from his home, about 100 yards away, and was wearing a dark shirt when he walked into the road and was hit by two vehicles. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said a driver saw the boy on the shoulder of the road and stopped in an effort to get him but was too late, and witnessed the collision.

Investigators spent the day talking with members of the boy’s family.

They believe he slipped out of the home during a 15-minute window, when the boy’s grandmother left to take the boy’s father to work. The rest of the family was sleeping.

The family released the below statement:

"We are heartbroken over the tragic and sudden loss of little Bruce. Bruce’s parents are utterly devastated by the death of their beloved only son, whom they adored and doted on. We request that you keep the family, witnesses to the accident, and first responders in your thoughts and prayers."

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County officials told Channel 9 that the road was shut down near Creek Ridge Road for nearly three hours.

Troopers said they do not expect to charge the driver.

They said they have not found any reason to charge family members and DSS will investigate as protocol.