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A 3-year-old was hit by a car and killed Wednesday morning in Manchester. Credit: Tyler Russell / Connecticut Public

The family of a 3-year-old girl who was killed in an early morning accident on Wednesday was under investigation by the Department of Children and Families, based on two different reports, a DCF spokesman said.

The girl was struck by a car at 375 East Center St. Police were called to the area before dawn, around 4:36 a.m. The child was taken to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center as medical personnel attempted to save her but died, according to a statement from Manchester Police posted on Facebook. The driver who struck the child remained at the scene and has been cooperating with police.

“We are heartbroken by the death of this young child and extend our deepest condolences to the child’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” said Peter Yazbak, a spokesman for DCF.

According to DCF, the family was being investigated based on reports received on June 1 and June 5, alleging a lack of supervision.

Ken Mysogland, DCF’s Chief Administrator of External Affairs, confirmed that the agency is working to ensure the safety of the remaining children in the home as they jointly investigate with law enforcement.

“We have already started a thorough review of the history we have with the family, which is a standard part of our continuous quality improvement structure,” Mysogland said.

Most reports to DCF involve an allegation of neglect only, Mysogland said — 74%.

“It’s a broad category that could include poor supervision, not attending school regularly, substance abuse in the home or domestic violence in the home,” or medical neglect, which Mysogland said may run counter to public perception that the majority of cases involve physical or sexual abuse. “That is not the case.”

Laura Tillman is CT Mirror’s Human Services Reporter. She shares responsibility for covering housing, child protection, mental health and addiction, developmental disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. Laura began her career in journalism at the Brownsville Herald in 2007, covering the U.S.–Mexico border, and worked as a statehouse reporter for the Associated Press in Mississippi. She was most recently a producer of the national security podcast “In the Room with Peter Bergen” and is the author of two nonfiction books: The Long Shadow of Small Ghosts (2016) and The Migrant Chef: The Life and Times of Lalo Garcia (2023), which was just awarded the 2024 James Beard Award for literary writing. Her freelance work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. Laura holds a degree in International Studies from Vassar College and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Goucher College.