Toddler Killed in Tragic San Francisco Art Gallery Accident

A two-year-old boy is dead following a tragic accident outside a Fisherman’s Warf art gallery, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Kayson Shelton was on vacation from Utah with his family. The toddler was playing outside of his hotel, near the Majestic Collection Art Gallery on June 6, when he began climbing on a large bronze dolphin statue on the sidewalk in front of the store. Suddenly, the heavy statue tipped over, falling onto the child.

Paramedics treated Shelton for a nose bleed on the scene, before transporting him to San Francisco General Hospital. Although he did not appear to be seriously injured at first, Shelton died at the hospital due to internal injuries some four hours after the incident.

Google street view of the gallery in question showing a dolphin statue displayed on the sidewalk.

Municipal code prohibits merchants from displaying their wares on the sidewalks beyond a certain point, designated by a blue line. This allows for pedestrian traffic to move freely on crowded Fisherman’s Warf. It is unclear whether the statue in question was in violation of that code, but the gallery did receive a citation for the offense on Friday.

Police captain David Lazar told the Chronicle that his squad had been making an effort to enforce regulations regarding merchandise displayed on the sidewalk and that “for a couple of years now the merchants have been warned.” Reportedly, the gallery was specifically warned about one of their dolphin statues during last summer’s America’s Cup.

The gallery is said to be cooperating with the ongoing police investigation of the incident. The cops will be reviewing video footage from the scene.