Kyle McGuire, killed in a November 2008 crash.NEWAYGO COUNTY, MI – When the family of 2-year-old Kyle McGuire of Whitehall learned that he could have survived a 2008 car crash had his car seat fit him more appropriately, they set out to make sure no one else would suffer a similar tragedy.
The toddler and his grandfather were killed in the same November 2008 crash.
“The car seat that Kyle was in was inappropriate for his age and size. He should have been in a five-point harness, but he wasn’t and he broke his neck,” said Sarah Ackley, Kyle’s aunt and daughter of Kyle’s grandfather, Scott Ackley, 46, also killed in the 2008 crash.
Sarah Ackley is one of the founders of Kyle's Project, which aims to replace and dispose of recalled, out-dated or poorly-fitting car seats by replacing them for free with news ones.
“Even though the manufacturer said Kyle’s weight and size was right for that seat, it wasn’t the right one for him. State police investigators told us that he could have survived had he been in the right seat," she said.
The accident, which happened near the Muskegon-Newaygo county line, included the Ackley minivan and a car that collided at a high rate of speed near Ryerson Road around 11:25 a.m. on a Sunday. Police said the car's 16-year-old driver appeared to have crossed the centerline. That driver died as well.
“We don’t want this to happen to anyone else,” Sarah Ackley said.
Sarah Ackley and her mother, Tracey Ackley-Norris, started Kyle's Project in 2009 and continue to supply anyone with an appropriately-fitting car seat for their infant and toddlers.
Free car seats/seat inspection Saturday in Whitehall
What: Kyle's Project will be handing out free, new car seats to those who need them on a first-come, first-serve basis. A bake sale will be going on as well to raise funds for next year's event. Children are welcome to attend the event.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25.
Where: Whitehall City Hall, 405. E. Colby, Whitehall.
Who: Sarah Ackley and her mother, Tracey Ackley-Norris are the founders of the project and are certified child-safety seat inspectors.
How: For more information call Sarah Ackley at 231-730-4880 or check out the Kyle's Project website at www.kylesproject.net.
The group hands out free car seats to anyone in need.
All brand new car seats given away are paid for out of their own pocket. Both founders are currently nationally and state certified as child passenger safety technicians.
“We started this group because my dad was a grandfather and he didn’t know better,” she said of Kyle’s car seat.
“My mom and I decided to start this project and try to make people aware that there is something safer out there.”
On Saturday, they will be conducting safety seat checks at Whitehall City Hall where they will have about 30 new seats to hand out to those who need one.
“We buy them brand new. It’s something that we do on our own. We wanted to show people that Kyle’s Project is out there. It’s not just for low-income families. We will do it for any income families. A lot of the working-class families don’t qualify for other programs that are out there,” she said.
The seats are first come, first serve. The new seats are only given out if the seats checked are deemed unsafe, recalled or inappropriate for the size of the child, Sarah Ackley said.
They recognize how complicated installing a car seat can be – particularly to a new mother or a grandparent.
“Parents don’t always know how to install them. The manuals are like reading a foreign language. It takes a lot of work. We are nationally certified through Safe Kids U.S.A. We have our licenses to do this,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kyle’s mother, Courtney Ackley, is in total support of the project, Sarah Ackley said.
“She is very excited that we’re doing this,” she said.
For more information visit the Kyle's Project website here or check out the Facebook Page dedicated to the cause.
Email: hpeters@mlive.com