Toddler Dies When Mum’s Car Rolls Into River, But She Has No Clue and Reports It Stolen

The place where the car carrying 2-year-old Kiara is believed to have entered the water. (Screenshot via Google Maps)

A 2-year-old girl died when the car she was in became submerged in a river in Wales. Her father described on Facebook how the tragedy unfolded.

At first, the family suspected their Mini with daughter Kiara Moore inside had been stolen, local media reported. But now the girl’s father, Jet Moore, says that his 2-year-old daughter died when her mother’s car rolled into the River Teifi in Cardigan, west Wales, without her realizing.

The car rolled down a ramp and into the river with Kiara trapped inside, the Mirror reported, and neither were found for about two hours when the sunken car was discovered about 50 metres away.

“They got in the car to go home. Sat on bank card which snapped and needed money to get home etc. Went back to the office to get money from the desk and came back to no car. Looked in the river no signs. So we thought she and the car had been taken," wrote Moore on Facebook.

According to WalesOnline, the girl’s mother, Kim Rowlands, initially reported her car had been stolen with her daughter inside, sparking a search in the Welsh city on the afternoon of Monday, March 19.

“The police found the car a while later and went way beyond the call of duty jumping in and pulling her out,” Moore wrote in his post.

“They tried to revive her for hours but unfortunately could not.
 Everyone done their best.”

Kiara was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Monday night after being airlifted there from Cardigan.

Moore paid tribute to Kiara, writing:

“She was an incredible [sic] happy young girl who lived I hope a great adventurous fun life. And may have done more than most people
. Been skiing twice and skied her self!

“Paddled the Great Glen Scotland
, paddles the Wye
, played on every beach we could.
 Had a Loving family and made us all happy.

“She always wanted to be called RAR RAR which was our Knick Name [sic] for her
. Love her so much.”

According to WalesOnline, the search initially launched for the missing Mini and little girl was major. The Cardigan coastguard, Gwbert coastguard, and Moylegrove coastguard all took part. A section of road was closed, as was a footbridge across the river. A team of specialist divers was seen by eyewitnesses, WalesOnline reported.

At around 6 p.m., police issued a statement that the car had been found and said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Cardigan town councillor Graham Evans was cited by WalesOnline as saying the incident was a shock to the community.

“We’re all thinking of the family at this time. I’d like to also pay tribute to the emergency services for all their hard work. It’s a huge shock. The town is very quiet today,” Evans said.

Noel Lewis owns a business close to the slipway down which the car containing Kiara apparently rolled. He said he knew Moore and would see him, Kiara, and her mother.

He said he often saw a silver Mini parked on the slipway.

“It’s concrete, about four or five foot, going down into the river bed, which is quite deep, so if the Mini rolled back then the poor little girl didn’t stand a chance,” he told WalesOnline.

“It’s awful,” he added.

Below is the post, which has been removed from Moore’s Facebook profile, in its entirety:

“Just to let every one who keeps asking how know. It was the lemons stacked up too far!They got in the car to go home. Sat on bank card which snapped and needed money to get home etc.  Went back to the office to get money from the desk and came back to no car. looked in the river No signs. So we thought she and the car had been taken. The police found the car a while later and went way beyond the call of duty jumping in and pulling her out. They tried to revive her for hours but unfortunately could not. Everyone done their best.

“Thank you all so much for the support it means the world!!! ?

“She was an incredible happy young girl who lived I hope a great adventurous fun life. And may have done more than most people Been skiing twice and skied her self! Paddled the great glen Scotland Paddles the wye Played on every beach we could. Had a Loving family and made us all happy

“She always wanted to be called RAR RAR which was our Knick Name for her Love her so much.”

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