Police: Toddler collapses at daycare, dies at hospital

GASTONIA, NC (WBTV) - The Gastonia Police Department is investigating after a toddler collapsed at a local daycare and later died at the hospital.

According to a Gastonia Police report, a 4-year-old boy was playing with other children in the room when an employee of the daycare noticed he started walking strange and then fell to the floor.

It happened at the Smart Kids' Child Development Center along 700 block of Cox Road in Gastonia on Monday morning around 9:56 a.m.

The little boy was transported to Gaston Memorial Hospital where he later died.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Investigators with the state visited the facility today and started their investigation," said Director Kevin Campbell. "Parents will be notified of what happened by memo when they drop off their children in the morning. The daycare is bringing in grief counselors tomorrow evening."

According to police, the case has been assigned to the Youth Bureau. No foul play is suspected.

Officers say they have no information that indicates this incident is "anything other than a medical issue."