Unrestrained 10-month-old dies after falling from back seat of car, Virginia cops say

A 10-month-old who was riding unrestrained in an SUV died after falling from the back seat, according to Virginia police.

A mother placed her 10-month-old daughter in the back seat to drive a short distance to a nearby dumpster in Woodbridge on June 12, according to a statement from the Prince William County Police Department.

The driver returned to a home to pick up family members, and when one person opened the SUV door, the child fell out onto the road, police said.

The driver immediately got out to check on the child, but the SUV still was in drive, police said. The SUV rolled forward and struck the infant.

The baby suffered serious head injuries and died at the hospital later that day, the statement says.

No charges have been filed, according to police.

Woodbridge is about 20 miles south of Washington, DC.

Infants and toddlers should always be buckled into rear-facing car seats in the backseat with a harness until they reach the maximum weight or height limit for their car seat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Car seats reduce the risk of injury for children in a crash by 71% to 82% when compared with seat belt use alone, according to the agency.