PEABODY — The family day care center where a 2-year-old wandered off and into traffic last week has been closed pending an investigation.
Watch-A-Tot was shuttered on Friday after a toddler from the center was rescued by a good Samaritan in the middle of Lowell Street.
The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), the state agency which regulates child care, launched an inquiry into the center after the Peabody Police Department notified them of an allegation of child neglect.
The center, located in a three-bedroom ranch-style home at 486 Lowell St., was issued a license to Susan O’Connell in 2001 for care of up to eight children.
EEC said O’Connell agreed to suspend child care pending the outcome of the probe. She did not return calls seeking comment.
An EEC spokeswoman said it is not clear how soon the investigation will be completed. A full report will be released at a later date, she said. Possible penalties range from freezing enrollment to having their license revoked.
The center has not had any complaints in the last five years, the spokeswoman said.
Joann Cronin, an assistant manager at the Peabody Municipal Federal Credit Union, is credited with saving the child. She slammed on her brakes, jumped out of her car and scooped up the child on Friday morning.
She carried the girl, who was unharmed, to a nearby gas station where an employee called 911.
Police said the child opened a door in the Watch-A-Tot daycare center shortly after being dropped off at 8 a.m., wandered into the center’s yard and onto the street.
Police said the daycare center was unaware the girl was missing for at least 25 minutes. Police asked EMTs to examine the girl and the child’s mother picked her up at the station.
