LEWISTON — A toddler who fell Tuesday morning from a third-story window is listed in fair condition at a local hospital.
The mother and father of a 22-month-old boy, who fell from the third floor of their 21 Walnut St. apartment in Lewiston, express their grief as the child is loaded into a United Ambulance on Tuesday morning. The child, who landed in a pile of soft dirt, was conscious when taken to Central Maine Medical Center, according to Lewiston police.
According to police, the 22-month-old boy, David O'Connor, fell through a window screen from an apartment at 21 Walnut St. shortly before 11:30 a.m.
The boy's father, Jonathan O'Connor, 31, said he was in the bathroom at the time; the mother, Crystal Martin, 40, was in the living room. The toddler had been in his crib, but apparently climbed out then fell out of his bedroom window.
The father said he went to check on his son and noticed the ripped screen. He rushed to the window. When he looked out, he saw the boy was standing on the ground behind the building looking up at his father, police said.
The mother reported the fall.
The father went outside and carried his son around to the side of the building, cradling the boy on the steps until ambulance workers arrived.
They carried the diapered boy to a portable gurney and strapped him to it before wheeling him to a waiting ambulance. The boy appeared to be conscious.
The boy's mother climbed into the ambulance with her son; the boy's father stayed behind with the couple's 3-year-old daughter, police said. The boy was taken to Central Maine Medical Center, where he was admitted and was being treated.
Police Lt. Michael McGonagle said it's understandable that many city dwellers feel the need to open windows during the warm weather, but urged them to take the needed safety precautions if young children live in the home. Window locks and safety bars can help prevent accidents like this, he said.
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AGE
I am not 40 btw!! Im only 32. Thank you very much.
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I read that and thought.. Ohhhh Shes gonna love that!! Love you Teddybear!! Kiss my monkey man for me!
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Oh my goodness teddybear, they really goofed this time. :)
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If everyone was readin the comments before they post you would see that the MOTHER posted .. The window was only open a few inches. David opened the window and then pushed on the screen.. The screen frame was still in the window the screen itself gave. My only question is why don't landlords make sure they have the correct windows.. Vinyl replacement windows (that have been put in most of the windows) can be with a lil more $$ have safty locks so then they can not be opened by a toddler!! I lived in Lewiston when my daughter was a toddler and also lived on the 3rd floor. NO it was not low income but I still was not allowed an air conditioner! So you are forced to open windows. Parents know it only takes a second so people please don't pass judgement.. I know the parents personally and they love their children and like I said it only takes a second!
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Those replacement windows are what I have in my home. Once the locks are set. No one, adult or child can open that window any further until the locks are pushed back into the window. I wonder if there is a gadget that can be applied to existing windows, that would prevent the window from being lifted more that 3 or 4 inches?
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do what a friend of mine did, find a used crib and use the sides of it for a "jail" type window.
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I'm glad he's well. His angel was defin. with him today. It's true what they say, kids are really made of rubber.
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Now see...I said at the onset that toddlers are bouncy and squishy and my comment was removed! It's a good thing.
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Just as I meant from my comment above...it was relief that the little ones are bouncy. My youngest once pulled a motorcycle over onto himself... I freaked but he came out of it like nothing happened.
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Please lower your voice, you are giving me a headache. ;) My intention was not to insult you, or anyone. You stated, Now it doesnt take a Physisist technician, or a force and gravitiy specialist, or a pediatrician or any other flipping scientist!!!! to know that IF U HAVE A YOUNG CHILD, AND YOU LIVE ON THE 3RD FL, (or any floor) YOU CANT HAVE YOUR WINDOWS WIDE OPEN ALL THE TIME! ! ! I believe that if someones child falls from a window, you are stating that they must be below average in intelligence. Well this mother did not leave the window wide open...and her screen was down. Like I said, I understand your passion, but I do not agree with some of the things you said in your comments. I did find them to be demeaning, ridiculing, and I believe they came across as condemning.
At the moment you wrote your comments, they were directed at the person that this article was written about, because the story was written about their child that fell from a window. These people did not need to read about what you thought of those that happen to have a child fall from a window.
You went on to say, that there is no room for accidents, no matter the circumstances. In fact you called it failure to protect the one thing you cherish most in life, your flesh n blood. I believe that parents that have those sorts of things happen, do love their children...accidents happen. This was an accident.
Thank you meowski for starting that article, I believe it will make parents aware of these sorts of dangers. I hope to read your article. Please lay off the Caps...I believe if you shout things at people, they tend to feel your attacking them. :)
meowski, a wake up call? These parents have been through hell today I am sure. I am sure that they will be glad to get ideas from others, such as the one Tron posted. They probably never thought of opening the window from the top. It was a great suggestion, and at a time like this...that is exactly what people need. :)
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This is so sad. Look at those parents, they look wrecked. I'll be praying for this boy. You're in our thoughts teddybear and family. Part of parenting is making mistakes. Some mistakes are big and some are small. This one could have ended much worse. The good thing about this is that people all over Lewiston are probably paying more attention to their windows.
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I just wanted to let you know, I am the mother of this child. He is doing very well. Keeping him the hospital for observation. No broken bones, no internal injury. He definately had his guardian angel with him. AND the window was only open a crack at the bottom. I dont leave my windows wide open just for this reason. David managed to push the window open further. The screen was all the way down, matter of fact the frame was still down when he fell out. He pushed on the screen, and it gave way.So dont judge me and my family until you know the situation. Assumptions just make you look like an a$$.
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open the windows from the top. That forces the kid to push two windows up before they'll fall, and toddlers will usually give up way before that happens.
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Great idea, Tron. And the window screen can be pushed up inorder to keep bugs out.
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Thank goodness. God bless your family
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I am so glad to hear the good news teddybear. :) You are right, his guardian angel was with him. :) I'd like to say, Get well soon David. :)
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Please meowski, have a little compassion for what this family must be going through. They are not alone in thinking screens can prevent children from falling out of windows. Like you said, you have a cousin that fell too. It happens... so instead of insulting these parents at the worse possible times in their lives, perhaps you could call SJ and help write an article warning parents of this danger.
To insinuate they are somehow below average in intelligence, is demeaning and cruel. I understand your passion, but for goodness sake have a little mercy for these people. These people do not need us to ridicule and the do not need us condemning them. My, what has become of the people in Maine? I am sure these parents have and are going through hell. Look at that Dad's face. Let's educate not condemn. It's not like they opened the window with the intention of letting him fall out the window.
We have mother's that bring men home that abuse and murder their children. This too has been going on for years...and this happens much more often than children falling from windows. Let's educate people, not condemn them.
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now, DHHS gets involved, or if the parents get charged with child endangerment.
You know, having that crib next to an open window was definately a bad judgement call, but i believe these parents love this child and and would never do anything intentional to hurt it. It was just a mistake, and I am sure they are suffering right now, worrying about their baby.
But there are always people in our government that feel like they just have to get involved. I pray that this child is alright, and that the vultures leave the parents alone.
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Who said the crib was next to the window....what they said was that he climbed out of his crib. I dont care how mindless someone is I am betting that no one would put a crib next to an open window. I happen to know this family personally and they would never have put that child in danger deliberately. Keep in mind that they live on the 3rd floor and the weather has been horribly hot and you cant even buy an air conditioner in this state right now, they needed to have those windows open....dont judge others unless you have been in that situation....
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I believe that DHS will probably investigate. I believe these parents will comply with everything DHS asks of them. I too believe they love their little boy. I hope they move. Having two toddlers on the third floor must be hard. If it's not the windows, it's the stairs. I lived on the fourth floor until I was four years old. I guess my brother and I tumbled down the stairs at least once. We were told that we were climbing and slipped. It happens.
I'm with you ajg....I hope this child is alright, and I hope people show a little compassion for these parents. :)
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Please review our commenting policy.
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It was meant as a good thing... I've had three little ones who have survived one scrape after another that would have laid me up for days or worse. Little ones are made resilliant for a reason... screens are one of them.... and they have amazing speed when we think they're going to stay put.
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I am so sorry to read such a sad story and will pray for him and his family that he will be ok and recover quickly.
The thing is it is not only small children that need to be careful around open windows. Everyone needs to be careful. We have read in years past of people sitting on window sills and leaned too hard on the screen and fell out.
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Dear God, I hope this little fellow will be alright. I would hope that all landlord's and parents heed Police Lt. Michael McGonagle's warning and take his good advice. Over the years I have read quite a few stories of children falling out of windows in Maine. It is usually because of faulty screens. This poor father looks devastated. I hope and pray everything turns out well for this family.
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omg! poor thing! i was a teen when i lived in lewiston and baby cheryl (or sheryl) fell from her third floor window. i can remember the day like it was yesterday. we heard a noise we're it sounded like someone fell down the stairs and mom sent me to check it out. the father's door was open a little and as soon as i went to push it open he ... See Morewhooped it open and just the terror in his eyes-god-i felt instantly sick to my stomach. the words came out and i ran to his window and there was baby cheryl on the ground three and half feet below on the ground. mom called 911 i believe. she sent me downstairs to tend to the baby with a toy and make sure her father wouldn't pick her up (in case of severe injuries) and that she wouldn't try to move. it was horrifying at my age to see a lil baby so blue because she couldn't breathe. doesn't matter if there is a screen-it doesn't take much to push one out. i think baby cheryl had something wrong with her spleen but she didn't break a single bone in her body, etc. poor baby. i will NEVER forget that day. :(
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I agree with your comments except for the part about the faulty screen. Screens are made to keep bugs out. They are NOT made to keep people in. The only way to keep a child from falling out a window is to secure the window and not let them out of sight. I too will pray for this baby and the parents.
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I believe that you have made a good point, taxpayer. Perhaps SJ could write an article about the dangers of depending on screens to keep your children safe. Thank you for the correction. :) Yet, I have read that faulty screens, and no screens were the cause of some falls. I hope someone writes an article warning parents that screens were not made to keep your children in. Thank you, taxpayer.
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I agree with your comments except for the part about the faulty screen. Screens are made to keep bugs out. They are NOT made to keep people in. The only way to keep a child from falling out a window is to secure the window and not let them out of sight. I too will pray for this baby and the parents.
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I know, the look on his face kills me. :(
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