Prompted by the death of a 3-year-old boy, a state investigation into an Oceanside preschool has resulted in resulted in three citations and a fine for failure to provide a safe environment for students, officials said Friday.
Our media partner, the North County Times, reported the story on Friday.
The investigation, launched by the California Department of Social Services, began on August 8 after a boy choked on a pushpin at the Montessori School of Oceanside located at 3525 Cannon Road, according to the NCT.
Three citations were given by the state, including a $150 civil penalty along with corrective actions the school implemented immediately, according to spokesman Oscar Ramirez.
An investigation is the state's routine response to a major incident at a licensed child care facility and at the center of this case was the victim, Tyler Howell.
Back in August, a teacher reportedly heard him gasp and pull his hands to his neck at about 1 p.m. at the preschool.
Soon after, the boy became unresponsive. He was rushed to the hospital, but despite aggressive efforts by doctors to save his life, he passed away.
Medical examiners ruled the death an accident.
A pathologist reportedly found the pushpin in the main passageways into Tyler's lungs during an autopsy and an ME investigator noted "two pieces of cardboard with a single thumbtack in them" near the toilet where the boy was taken just before he choked, according to state documents.
Documents on the case said Department of Social Services investigators found that Tyler "was able to ingest a pushpin which the facility was utilizing to secure artwork and similar items," according to the NCT.
The toddler's mother, Aja Howell, called the incident an accident and said she didn't blame the school for the boy's death.
"This was Tyler's home, everyone was with him till the moment he was gone,” said. “I don’t want any parents to be afraid to come here."
Howell added that she still believed the school is a “wonderful place.”
Read more on this story from our media partner, the North County Times.
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