Some startling words:

In the last two years 258 children were killed and over 300 injured due to back over accidents. As our vehicles are getting larger and larger, so are the blind zones behind them. Back over accidents occur frequently, yet they are so preventable. Always ask contractors that visit your home to park on the street, and remind them to walk around their vehicle before leaving. Back up sensors or rear view cameras are very effective aides to have installed on your existing or new vehicle. Most children are backed over by their own parent because the driver is not aware that the child followed them out of their home. The driver simply can not see a child behind the vehicle!

A low cost alternative to back up cameras or sensors is the Rear View Safety Lens. The Rear View Safety Lens is designed for SUV's and Mini-Vans and allows you to see obstacles you can't see with inside and outside rear view mirrors, including the wide-angle convex type. Used as a rear window lens, you can avoid accidents due to the presence of children, toys, pets or other objects in your path while backing up. The LENS is a great help while parallel parking, it allows you to see the front end of the car that you are backing towards so that you do not accidentally cause any damage between the two automobiles. The LENS can also be used on a side window for larger vehicles; this helps to avoid squeeze accidents caused by vehicles hiding under your passenger door while you are changing lanes.

*Purchase your Rear View Safety Lens today through Annabelle's Angels. Shipping fees apply if mailed. See the instructions below to get your Rear View Safety Lens for $20.00, all proceeds go to our non-profit organization and aid in our efforts to promote child safety awareness!

Annabelle's Father tells his story of the day of her death

May 4, 2005 started as a normal day. I woke hearing laughter downstairs from my two children and the sounds of little feet running on the hardwood floor. After showering, shaving and getting dressed I made my way down the steps. "Hi, Daddy!" my daughter Annabelle yelled from her booster seat. Both she and Drew (our youngest) were eating their breakfast while watching the Wiggles from the kitchen. I made my way over to the kids and began to give Drew a few good-bye kisses. Then Annabelle pointed to her forehead and asked for her kiss too. Of course, I obliged. I told everyone good-bye and that I loved them, then headed out.

Around 1:45pm I received a call on my cell phone from a female that was clearly upset. Not recognizing the number on the caller ID, I thought that it was one of my employees calling from their cell phone. I heard "accident" and she sounded panicked. I asked her to calm down and asked what happened. Then I recognized my wife's voice....."Rodney, are you there?" I responded yes...., "Annabelle was crushed by a car!" she said. I asked if she was going to be ok...the answer was "I don't know." She then told me a few details which haunt me to this day.

We had a paint contractor come over to the house that day to give us a quote. He had parked in our driveway, between us and our neighbor’s house. After he was done, he went next door to our neighbor's house to give them a quote as well. My wife and the kids came outside and began to play. Annabelle was playing with her stroller and baby doll in the driveway behind the truck while my wife stood no less than 10 feet away with my son. Not seeing my daughter behind his pickup, the contractor got in and immediately backed up. My wife screamed for him to stop as she ran towards the truck but he did not hear her. She was only an arm's length away when Annabelle was killed.

Our lives have been forever changed. Nothing could have prepared us for such a loss. Our first born child was killed. How could this happen? How could it have been prevented? We still search for answers every day.

One thing that could have saved her is if the contractor had a rear detection device in his truck. We must continue to push our government and automobile manufacturers to make these devices mandatory!

*The following statistics show the frequency of back over accidents

Pie chart is broken down by type of incident in which a fatality occurred.
Statistics represent national data from the past 5 years.

U.S. Fatalities by type 2001-2005

Nontraffic noncrash fatalities involving children < 15 years of age

Other Resources

• www.rearlens.com
• www.kidsandcars.org