News

Police Officer Sings To Toddler To Distract Her After Fatal Car Wreck

by Gillian Fuller

Last Thursday, police officers in Brighton, Colorado responded to a horrific car crash just off Interstate 76.

When they arrived on the scene, they were saddened to find an entire family around the SUV, and many of the family members were badly injured.

A photograph taken from the scene is going viral. The image shows one police officer holding a little girl near the overturned car, interacting with her in an attempt to distract her from the carnage.

According to witness Jessica Matrious, the officer -- later identified as Officer Nick Struck -- kept the toddler occupied by reportedly singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” as his colleagues tended to her injured family.

According to the Daily Mail, Struck later spoke with 9NEWS about the incident.

He said,

When you hear that there's children involved… you get that pit in your stomach. The first thing we do when we get on scene is we just try to, if we can comfort anybody, of course we're going to go to the kids. I know for my daughter, it's just the attention that someone is there, listening. It's the same for adults, but kids, they take it on a whole other level.

Unfortunately, one man, who is allegedly the young girl's father, passed away in the crash.

One woman and one child were airlifted to the hospital, and three other children were reportedly brought to the emergency room.

We wish the injured a speedy recovery and offer the family our condolences during this difficult time.

Jessica Matrious, whose car was behind the SUV, says the crash was caused by a blown tire.

None of the passengers wore seat belts, and all were ejected from the vehicle.

Officer Struck rushed to distract the little passenger from the devastation.

Citations: Brighton Colorado cop distracts a little girl at scene of familys car crash (Daily Mail), Brighton officer comforts child after fatal crash (9NEWS)