Police still working on how child was fatally struck by starting gate at N.B. racetrack
Gate was being towed by truck at start of race in Woodstock
Police in western New Brunswick say they haven't determined how a child was fatally struck by a starting gate at a weekend horse racing event.
First responders were dispatched to the Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock at about 1:25 p.m. Saturday after a report of an injured child, Deputy Chief Simon Watts of the Woodstock Police Force told reporters Monday.
He said police determined the three-year-old had been struck by a starting gate as it was being towed by a pickup truck past the venue's grandstand during a race.
Theresa Blackburn, a reporter for the River Valley Sun in Woodstock, told CBC News she'd learned it was a three-year-old boy from the area who was killed.
He was transported to the Upper River Valley Hospital, where he later died.
Watts declined to confirm the child's gender or how the toddler ended up getting struck by the starting gate.
"So obviously, that's really part of the, the investigation that we're looking into," Watts said. "So I can't confirm how it happened."
First event of season
The incident happened during Connell Park Raceway's first harness race event of the season, according to Standardbred Canada, an organization that supervises and records the results of harness races across the country.
Connell Park Raceway was scheduled to host 11 harness racing days for the season.
In harness racing, a mobile starting gate is typically used to guide the horses to an even running start before the vehicle towing it is driven off the track to let the race proceed.
An online video broadcast of Saturday's event appears to capture the moment the starting gate struck the child during the second race of the day.
In the video, the truck towing the starting gate can be seen going past the grandstand, followed by a crashing sound and two of the harness racers suddenly turning their heads toward an area off-camera where spectators were standing.
Screaming can be heard followed by the announcer inquiring about what had just happened.
"We need an ambulance," the announcer said moments later. "Call an ambulance please to the grandstand, folks."
Operating status of track unclear
On Sunday, Woodstock police said Connell Park Raceway would remain closed until its investigation was complete.
On Monday, Watts said police had finished investigating the scene and had turned it back over to the Town of Woodstock, which owns the raceway.
CBC News asked Woodstock Mayor Trina Jones for an interview but one was not provided.
In an email, Jones said the town would release a statement Tuesday that addresses questions about the operating status of the raceway and potential new safety precautions.
"Please understand that we are taking great care in all our communications given the impact this has on our broader community, and we will release it as soon as possible tomorrow morning," Jones said in an email.
Watts said he could not comment on whether anyone will face charges related to the child's death but added it is being considered an accident.
"It does appear, based on the initial information from some people that we've got, that it is a tragic accident," he said.
Appealing to public for information, videos
Watts said police are now appealing to the public for any witnesses to Saturday's events, as well as for any camera footage that might have been taken at the time.
"We know nowadays, everyone's got a cellphone camera, so if we can obviously get clarification on where the incident actually took place and the details of it, and there's a few questions with regard to closeness of the gate."
Watts said the New Brunswick Coroner's Services and the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission are conducting their own investigations.
In a statement Sunday, the commission said it was examining the circumstances surrounding the incident to assess any measures that can be taken to prevent a similar incident.
The province's horse racing association is also co-operating with authorities in the investigation, Mitchell Downey, president of Horse Racing New Brunswick, said in an email.
"The entire racing community is deeply saddened by the tragic events of June 14," Downey said.
"On behalf of all our participants we wish to express our deepest sympathies. We ask everyone to keep the family in their thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time."
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