Australian authorities are investigating the death of a 3-year-old boy who became unresponsive and died inside a Queensland police station shortly after a car crash. The child has been identified as Caden Case.
According to Queensland Police, officers responded to a reported traffic crash in Queensland on Saturday, Oct. 25, shortly before 5 a.m. local time. A witness at the scene helped a 22-year-old woman and her young child — later identified as Caden — and drove them to the Beenleigh Police Station.
Police said that a short time after arriving at the station, Caden became unresponsive. Officers and first responders performed CPR on the child, but he died at the station.
Investigators said that a 24-year-old man and a 1-year-old child were also in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The man allegedly took the younger child and left the scene before police arrived.
Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Mooney stated that Caden “was in a bad medical way” before arriving at the police station, and that the boy’s mother had already called emergency services. Mooney said the child had sustained head injuries linked to the crash.
Police later located the 24-year-old man — believed to be the driver — at a home in the area that same morning. Authorities said the man and woman are the parents of both children, but are currently separated.
The man has been charged with breaching a domestic violence order and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, Oct. 27. Investigators said the circumstances of the crash are still under active investigation, and both parents are cooperating with police.
Queensland officials publicly thanked the first responders who attempted to save the child’s life at the Beenleigh Police Station, calling the circumstances “horrific.”
A GoFundMe created by a relative of the child’s mother describes the incident as “a mother’s worst nightmare” and says the money will go toward funeral costs for Caden. The fundraiser says, “No mother should have to bury their baby,” and asks for help so she does not have to worry about paying for her son’s funeral.
Authorities urged anyone experiencing domestic violence to seek immediate help. In the United States, confidential support is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. For emotional crisis support, including thoughts of self-harm, help is available by calling or texting 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
