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A toddler has miraculously survived a frightening collision in NSW with just minor cuts, thanks to one crucial thing.

Police have revealed that a correctly fitted car seat and appropriately fastened child were the reasons the toddler didn’t suffer more serious injuries.

NSW Police Force Traffic and Highway Patrol Command shared an image of the mangled car wreck, highlighting the virtually unscathed car seat.

“The collision highlighted the significant importance of child car seats being secured and the child appropriately fastened, which was thankfully the case in this instance,” they explained.

car seat crash

Police attached to the Riverina Highway Patrol attended the October 1 crash near Coolamon, and revealed just how the child was able to survive.

“During this collision, a young child was seated in an appropriate child car seat which was secured using both the anchor strap and ISOFIX, with the inbuilt harness fastened correctly over the child’s shoulders and across the hips. The child suffered very minor cuts, with the driver and only other occupant also receiving minor cuts.”

Police also highlighted the rules around car seats in NSW.

  • Children up to 6 months must be secured in an approved rearward facing child car seat.
  • Children aged 6 months to 4 yrs old must be secured in either a rear or forward-facing approved child car seat with an inbuilt harness
  • Children under 4 years old can’t travel in the front seat of a vehicle with 2 or more rows.
  • Children aged 4-7 yrs old must be secured in a forward-facing approved child car seat with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat
  • Children aged 4-7 yrs old can’t travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than 7 yrs in an approved child car seat or booster seat
  • Children aged 7-16 yrs old who are too small to be properly restrained by a seatbelt are strongly recommended to use either a forward-facing seat with an in-built harness for older children, an approved booster seat, or an approved child safety harness together with the vehicle’s seatbelt.
  • Children in booster seats must be restrained by a suitable lap and sash-type approved seatbelt that’s properly adjusted and fastened, or by a suitable approved child safety harness that’s properly adjusted and fastened.

“If you are unsure, there are authorised installation providers available in most locations that can check to make sure your car seat is installed correctly. Otherwise, pop in to your local Police station and a Highway Patrol Officer may be able to check them for you.”

  • Wow that looks insane! But also wow how incredible are car seats!

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  • Thank goodness for car seats. I can’t imagine not strapping any child in safely.

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  • I don’t move my car unless all my children are belted in properly and have a fair amount of disgust for parents that don’t make sure their children are belted in. But in this case I think the family had an Angel watching over them especially the driver – that they only suffered minor cuts.

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  • When one looks at the wreckage, it is hard to imagine anyone only having minor cuts and scratches to their person. I have seen less wreckage where all were dead, car seats notwithstanding, but it just goes to show how luck also plays a big part in the final outcome. Everyone always should be strapped in correctly at all times when driving in a car, so pleased that this was such a good outcome.

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  • Wow lucky for the child. We always check our seats

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  • Really good to know and refresh on the car seat rules now as my children are getting older.

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  • I can’t believe anyone survived this horror crash, especially a toddler. I had a crash many years ago now and the only reason my son had any cuts was because I’d removed his hat. The police put his car-seat on display in their station to show how good it was. They don’t look like much but this just proves how safe they can be and worth the money we pay for them.

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  • I’m amazed that the car seat looks in such good nick after that! While reading I was wondering if the other occupants of the vehicle survived and low and behold they did! Looking at that car I am amazed that anyone could survive. It just goes to show how important safety is.

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  • Thank God the toddler survived this horror car crash with just minor cuts, that is miraclous indeed when you see the pictures of the car wreak. Goes to show how important a safe and good fitting carseat are with proper standardised car seat fitting system. It can be hard for especially older children/teenagers to comply when they don’t have the recommended height yet


    • I am still quite amazed by the photos and marvel at the safety features of car seats that have been fitted; and also the safety features of new cars. It really is so important to make sure everyone is secure in a car and follow safety guidelines for every member of the family when travelling.

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  • The image in this article is actually quite horrifying and it is truly astounding that people survived such a terrible crash with only minor injuries. It is absolutely essential to make sure all car seats are indeed fitted correctly. The safety of everyone in a moving vehicle is so very critical.

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  • What a horrifying ideal for all. Well done to the driver having the child fitted correctly into the child safety seat, albeit I didn’t know you could fix them with both isofix and straps. I’ll be checking my car seat tomorrow now! So glad they’re all OK, could be a veto different story!

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  • Wow that it one serious collision to cause that wreck. So glad the child came out ok. Ive had all my car seats professionally fitted for all three of my kids. It is a small price to pay to keep them safe. Now to try and keep them safe on the road when they start driving.

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  • Thank goodness the little cutie was okay, just very minor marks. My husband is always commenting that the straps are too tight on our bub in the car (I can always fit my finger through and there’s no pressure on him) and I tell him that the risk of having a car seat not do its job is one I’m not keen on taking

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  • Accidents are so scary and it is so very important to always ensure your childs car seat is fitted correctly. I see parents taking them out of there cars and back in all the time and it worries me that they might not be fitted correctly. I have always had mine fitted by a professional as it worries me that i have not fitted it correctly.

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  • I think we all find accidents like this really frightening. I am grateful that no one was seriously injured, and it’s great that the police are taking the opportunity to highlight the importance of car seats and using them properly. It’s too easy to get lazy about this, especially for short trips!

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