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Toddler Crushed by SUV Seat in Tragic Accident
18 Apr
Summary
- A two-year-old girl tragically died after a power seat malfunctioned.
- The child was trapped and fatally compressed by the seat.
- Hyundai issued a recall for the affected vehicle model.
A two-year-old girl, Lucia Ayala, tragically died on March 7 in Akron, Ohio, when a power seat in a 2026 Hyundai Palisade SUV unexpectedly pinned her. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office determined her death was accidental, caused by mechanical asphyxia, after the seat folded down and fatally trapped her.
Bodycam footage showed first responders attempting life-saving measures on Lucia in the Restaurant Depot parking lot. Her father expressed bewilderment to officers, noting that the SUV's seats were not functioning correctly. Investigators are conducting a full review, expected to take up to 12 weeks.
Following the incident, Hyundai North America issued a recall on March 13 for the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims. The recall addresses an issue with second and third-row power seats potentially not detecting occupants or objects as intended, with a software update planned as the remedy.
