Toddler Dropped by His Stepfather Dies

A toddler whose stepfather accidentally dropped him on his head died from his injuries, the coroner’s office said Saturday.

Angel Frias, 21 months, died at 4:20 p.m. Friday at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, which has a pediatric intensive care unit, authorities said.

He had been transferred there after undergoing brain surgery Tuesday at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, authorities said.

An autopsy performed Saturday found that blunt force head trauma caused the brain injury that led to Angel’s death, according to the Ventura County medical examiner’s office.

No evidence of abuse or neglect was found and the autopsy findings are consistent with the stepfather’s account, authorities said. The death has been ruled an accident.

Angel was hospitalized about 5 p.m. Tuesday after paramedics were called to the family’s home in the 1700 block of Gisler Avenue in Oxnard and found the boy unconscious.

At St. John’s, doctors removed a clot on Angel’s brain, according to deputy coroners.

From the time of the accident, Angel never regained consciousness, authorities said.

Police said the accident happened when Angel’s stepfather tossed him in the air while playing with him and was unable to catch him.