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Chelmsford Woman Seriously Injured After Child Puts Car in Reverse

Police said the woman's 9-year-old accidentally put the car in reverse

A Chelmsford woman was seriously injured Sunday after her child accidentally put her vehicle in reverse before the vehicle struck and dragged her.

Chelmsford police and fire personnel responded to the North Road house at 10 a.m. for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers found a woman suffering from traumatic injuries, according to police.

The 37-year-old woman was taken by ambulance and flown by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Police said she was conscious and speaking to first responders; her injuries are not said to be life-threatening.

Police said the woman's 9-year-old son accidentally shifted the car into reverse. The mother was standing at the open driver's side front door, got caught inside the door and tried to dive for the brake pedal, but was pinned and then run over by the vehicle.

Police said the car continued down the driveway and crossed North Road, which is also Route 4, and then struck a rock wall at the opposite side of the roadway. The vehicle was moving at a slow rate of speed and the child was uninjured.

"This appears to be a terrible accident. The mother sustained serious injuries but is expected to survive at this time," Police Chief James Spinney said. "Thankfully, the child was not also injured as the vehicle rolled across the busy roadway."

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