NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
A 2-year-old child was critically injured in a serious crash on eastbound Interstate 40 in Donelson on Wednesday morning.
Police said the child's mother, Barbara Langley, 43, was driving a 2002 Saturn when she stopped in traffic. Her car was then struck from behind by a 2001 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Michael McDowell, 59, just after 9 a.m.
McDowell told police he saw the Saturn stopped in the road but was unable to stop his truck in time. McDowell was not injured.
Langley suffered minor injuries, and her son, LaDaveous Ivory, was transported to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in critical condition.
The eastbound lanes were shut down for a period of time just after Exit 213A, but all lanes were back open by noon.
Police said LaDaveous was riding in the back seat in an unsecured booster seat. However, Langley released the following statement on Thursday:
"The child was secured in an age-appropriate car seat -- not a booster seat. The seatbelts and harness straps were removed by bystanders in an attempt to free the pinned child before the police arrived."
Investigators said there was no evidence of alcohol or drug involvement in the wreck.
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