OTTUMWA — Authorities say an 8-year-old child died in Ottumwa yesterday after an accident involving a truck.

The Ottumwa Police Department reports that on July 2, 2024, at approximately 12:25 p.m., emergency personnel responded to the East Alley of the 200 Block of North Hancock and Dewey Street for a motor vehicle accident involving a Dodge truck and an 8-year-old male riding a bicycle.  

The driver of the truck was identified as Earc Timothy Pilcher, age 37, of Eldon.  The initial investigation into this incident identified that the truck accidently backed over the child in the traveled portion of the alley. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Pilcher was leaving a residence and had forgotten an item while his truck was stopped. A child on a bicycle rode up to the rear bumper of the truck, completely out of sight on the passenger’s side rear, when the truck began backing in the alley.  The 8 year old child died as a result of the accident.  No charges have been filed and the accident remains under investigation by the Ottumwa Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol.