The Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call shortly after 5:30 p.m. on May 6, in reference to a small child being struck by a vehicle. Deputies arrived at 425 Gray Ave. South in Lehigh Acres to find a child seriously injured. The child was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he died.

The investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit shows the boy’s father was heading to the store but didn’t realize his son was behind the vehicle when he began backing out of his driveway. The vehicle struck the child, causing fatal injuries.

The child is identified as Joseph Gates, with a date of birth of Aug. 28, 2009.