Guard Your Treasure, (Children)

Often times we don't realize how precious life is until calamity strikes. We take every breathe for granted, and we live life as if it comes with an unending guarantee. But life is a gift not to be taken lightly, and when you are entrusted with the gift of life in the form of a child we must guard, protect, and love them in appreciation for what God has given us, because tomorrow is not and never will be promised. The following narrative is as heart wrenching as any story that I have ever heard, and I am not blaming the parents by any means. But this should serve as a cautionary tale. 

A 3-year-old girl was killed at a Philadelphia Italian Ice shop when a metal gate collapsed on her during a fundraiser Saturday.

Philadelphia police are investigating the incident, which occurred during an afternoon event held by a local chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

"It was almost like slow motion," One witness was quoted as saying, "The gate was falling and people were screaming and it hit the ground and the little girl was there."

Loud screams erupted and about two dozen people worked to move the large gate off the child, who was rushed to a local hospital and ultimately pronounced dead.

"You could see the imprint on her face," said a woman who was also at the scene. "I was lifting the gate and I'm looking down at the girl. Clearly she was unconscious. Her eyes were open and there was blood."

Officials with the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections will investigate how the gate fell off the front façade of the popular Rita's Water Ice franchise. 

Department Commissioner Carlton Williams said in a statement, there were no open violations at the business and the security gate had no reported issues.

It was a grisly scene Saturday evening as the frame of the gate lay flat in front of the store as police and other officials secured the area. Colorful balloons from the festive event turned tragic, remained blowing in the wind, with several balloons and flyers trapped underneath the gate.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the child's family," said Linda Duke, a spokeswoman for Rita's. "Due to the current investigation we really cannot comment about the unfortunate incident."

PR