HASTINGS, Fla. – A 3-year-old boy has died from injuries suffered when he was struck by a vehicle driven by his father Sunday afternoon in Hastings, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies were called to the family's home in the 10000 block of Turpin Avenue just before 2 p.m. As deputies arrived, they saw the father screaming for help and administering CPR to his son, Christopher Lamer Perkins.
Deputies said the father, 28-year-old Samuel Perkins, was driving his Ford pickup truck while moving materials from the back yard to the front yard, and Christopher was playing in a plastic toy car. As Perkins was backing up, he did not see the boy and struck him, deputies said.
First responders took over life-saving measures when they arrived, and the boy was flown to Flagler Hospital. He was later flow to UF Health Jacksonville, but later died.
Christopher's family said they're just trying to keep it together during this difficult time. They said Christopher died at the hospital, but his laughter and love still live at their home.
Michelle Tibbs, Christopher's grandmother, said his brother is not taking it well. She said he put some of Christopher's toys he cherished outside in the yard so Christopher can see them from heaven.
Tibbs and Jay Perkins, Christopher's grandfather, said the boy's mother and father won't be back at the house because it's just too painful.
"I don't know he hit Christopher," Tibbs said of Samuel Perkins. "I think he's taking it worse than anyone because he was the one that was driving the vehicle. I mean, we're telling him, 'It's not your fault. It's an accident that could've happened to anybody.'"
She said it was hard to keep an eye on the 3-year-old, who was always playing and always full of life.
"He was like, 'Daddy in the truck, take his truck back there,'" Tibbs said.
"That boy -- he could sit at your feet, put your head up and blink your eye and look back down at him and he'd be over there," Jay Perkins said.
"He could grab your heart even if you didn't know him. He's the sweetest, friendliest, laughing -- I don't think I ever saw him cry."
Deputies and the Department of Children and Families are investigating, but deputies said it appears to have just been a tragic accident.
Perkins has had just two previous driving citations, one for not wearing a seat belt in 2012, and one for not obeying a traffic sign in 2011.
An account has been set up to help with funeral expenses. The account is through Capital City Bank, P.O. Box 306, Hastings FL, 32145. It's account No. 1808481406. Checks can be made payable to Samuel J. Perkins, with Christopher's name in the memo line. To contact the bank, call 904-692-1221.