Investigation of Early Childhood Center accident continues

An autopsy was performed Saturday on a 4-year-old student who died Friday at the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center when a wall mounted table fell and struck the boy.

The autopsy was performed by Dr. Russell Deidiker in Farmington, Mo., according to Butler County Coroner Andy Moore.

“Due to the age of the child and grieving parents I’m not going to release details of the autopsy or his name,” Moore said Saturday afternoon. “The autopsy did show injuries consistent with what we found where the accident happened at the Early Childhood Center yesterday.”

Moore went on to say he had been in contact with the child’s parents Saturday and asked for continued prayers and for the community to come together as in the past to wrap them in love, prayers and support as they struggle with this tragic accident.

The child approached one of the wall mounted tables “and apparently pushed a bench connected to it,” Poplar Bluff R-1 Superintendent Scott Dill said around noon Friday.

The accident occurred at approximately 10 a.m. Friday.

While school at the Early Childhood Center will take place Monday, Dill said other arrangements have been made and the area where the accident occurred will not be used.

The incident took place in a multipurpose room which doubles as the school’s cafeteria and physical education class.

The district is conducting an internal investigation with its property and liability insurance provider, Missouri United School Insurance Council (MUSIC), who will be on location Monday, Dill said Saturday afternoon, to investigate how the accident happened.

He added the handles required a key to release the tables from the wall and both safety latches were engaged.

As of Saturday afternoon, Dill said maintenance personnel were inspecting every single campus and wall mounted tables in the district to ensure the mechanisms are in place.

Similar items are used in several of the campuses within the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District and routine maintenance is conducted on the tables and latches.

Dill added a routine maintenance was completed recently, but if more frequent inspections are needed, that is what the district will do.

“We are focused on ensuring the equipment we have is operating as purposed as well as the security apparatuses are functioning as intended,” he said.

Other students were present at the time of the accident Friday, officials reported.

Grief counselors and faith-based partners will be available for students, teachers, parents and anyone else who needs assistance, Dill said.

District personnel reached out to students who were present or may have witnessed any of the situation and their parents, Dill said, and are offering services as needed.

The services are extended to anyone who may need assistance by contacting Central Office, a principal’s office or anyone with the school district.

“We will assure assistance if needed to get through this difficult time,” Dill said.

Following the accident, the student was immediately transported to the on-site nursing office, where care was administered, as well as CPR, officials said Friday.

The student was then taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Classes at the Early Childhood Center were dismissed for the remainder of Friday afternoon.

“Continue to keep the family in your prayers and teachers in your prayers,” Dill said. “Everyone involved in this situation is struggling.”