Deadly summer for children on valley roadways

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - It's been a wild summer for car crashes involving kids; it's sad to report that there have been way too many kids involved in car crashes who have been hurt or killed.

Experts say some of those injuries or deaths are due to car seats not being properly installed, or even installed at all.

"This summer alone we've had this really alarming trend of children not riding in child passenger seats properly, or not restraints at all," said Michelle Donati with AAA Arizona.

In one case nine people were inside a Chevrolet Tahoe when it rolled over, the cause is a tire that blew out. Three people died including an 11-year-old and 15-year-old. Neither child was wearing a seatbelt.

In another case on 67th Avenue and Van Buren, a 14-year-old was driving drunk and hit an SUV. A 3-year-old was ejected after not being properly restrained.

Just this summer alone ten children have been killed or seriously injured on Valley roads, that's a stark contrast to 16 in all of last year.

"Many parents think they're doing all they can to keep their child safe, and don't think they're unintentionally putting them in harms way," said Donati.

It's a scary thought, but help is out there, AAA is holding an event next week where you can get a car seat if you need one.

For more information visit: www.aaa.com/childsafety