Sheriff Explains Chiropractor Accident That Killed Toddler
SHOREVIEW, Minn. (WCCO) -- Authorities said a toddler was killed in Shoreview after pulling the handle of a chiropractor's table while the child's mother was there for an appointment.
According to Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom, Amy Elizabeth Newton of Mounds View was at First Chiropractic along Highway 96 in Shoreview at about 5 p.m. Thursday.
She had her three children with her at the appointment, ages 4, 2 and 18 months.
Bostrom said Newton's doctor left the room briefly, and the 18-month-old boy ran underneath the Triton DTS (Dynamic Tension System) TRT-600 table. It appears the child then hit the down button and the table came down.
Authorities said Newton was helpless to do anything, because she was strapped down to the table. She called out for help.
Staff members came and were able to raise the table again. They attempted CPR on the boy.
Both Newton and her 18-month-old boy were taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at about 5:40 p.m.. Authorities said it appeared the child died of head trauma. The child was identified Friday as Benjamin Bryan Newton.
Clinic staffers said the family has asked them not to make any comments and to respect their privacy, but they said they were grieving the child's loss also.
Bostrom said this is not a case where there are likely to be any criminal charges filed.
The owner of the office said nothing like this has ever happened there before.
"As a team, we are grieving the loss of one of our patient's children," said Chiropractor Lowell Magelssen, who added that staffers are friends with the child's family. "You can never possibly in a million years script this. It's every parent's nightmare, every grandparent's nightmare. We can't believe it."
The table involved is used to treat patients with disk injuries who haven't had success with physical therapy. Their spine is stretched and compressed while strapped on the table.
"This is a very effective machine when used properly," said Doctor Adam Burke, a Chiropractor in Edina, who has no ties to First Chiropractic.
