OMAHA, Neb. -- Some parents have a cultural or financial barrier to buckling their children in car seat, the National Safety Council said on Thursday.

Twice in the past week, children have fallen out of moving vehicles because they weren't buckled in, police said. In one incident, a 3-year-old boy died from his injuries. McKenzi Holley fell from a vehicle near 90th and Ohio streets at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday. He was taken to Creighton University Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.

McKenzi's grandmother said the boy was buckled into a car seat, but he unhooked it himself, opened the car door and fell out as his mom was leaving the apartment complex.

On Wednesday, Kristina Hernandez, 4, was transported to Creighton University Medical Center in serious condition. Police said she was unrestrained in the front of a truck with two other children.

The National Safety Council office in Omaha said the two incidents have put a spotlight on the fact that some parents aren't using the correct safety seat, or aren’t using a safety seat at all.

"It breaks your heart, because you know there are preventative measures that can reduce the risk of these things happening," said the council’s Tim Tichy. “They haven't been properly educated on it -- don't really realize the importance of it. The other part of its is there are some that can't afford seats and that's very tragic.”

The council’s Kay Farrell said lack of education and cost are a reality for many parents, and there’s no easy solution. Farrell said some organizations can help families get a car seat, but handing them out for free is usually unrealistic.

“We simply don't have the resources to do that,” Farrell said. “I wish we did, but we don't.”

Organizations including the National Safety Council and the Nebraska State Patrol can help some families who are able to demonstrate a financial need, or if the family’s current seat is unsafe.

Find more at SafeKidsNebraska.org.