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Sheriff’s department seeks charges against parents of Lublin toddler

 

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Department is pursuing felony child neglect charges against the parents of a Lublin toddler killed when struck by a train on June 29.

According to Taylor County Sheriff Larry Woebbeking, the investigation into the death of the 2-year-old child is near completion and will be forwarded to the Taylor County District Attorney’s office.

The parents of the deceased child are 26-year-old Kyle T. Bratland and 31-year-old Natasha S. Bratland of Lublin.

According to Woebbeking, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office investigation found that the children from the Bratland residence were commonly seen without adult supervision and playing in areas that were unsafe. Area residents informed the Sheriff’s Office detective that the children were commonly seen through-out the village playing in the streets, on the railroad tracks and even on roof tops.

It has further been determined that the 2-year-old victim was alone leading up to the fatal accident and not under any supervision. The child was seen alone walking down the street in only a diaper, Woebbeking stated.

At the time of the fatal accident the Canadian National Railroad train was traveling southbound blowing its train horn numerous times as it approached the village. The 2-year-old child was also running in a southbound direction on the outer edge of the railroad ties. The train conductor noticed the small child movements before impact and attempted to stop the train but was unable to avoid striking the child. The train was operating in a safe and normal condition prior to the accident, Woebbeking stated.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office will be requesting charges on both Kyle and Natasha Bratland for, neglecting a child with death as a consequence of that neglect 948.21(1)(d) class D felony. The charging request will be forwarded to the Taylor County District Attorney’s offi ce.

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