Mother accidently shot and killed by two-year-old son while driving

The toddler picked up the gun while sitting in the back of a car after it fell from under driver’s seat

Patrice Price is seen in an undated photo provided by her father, (AP)

A mother has died after being accidently shot by her two-year-old son while driving on a US highway when he found a gun in the car.

Patrice Price, of Milwaukee, was fatally shot once in the back on Tuesday, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office said.

The toddler, who was sitting in the backseat, picked up the gun after it fell from under driver’s seat, firing it through the front seat and hitting the 26-year-old.

A .40-callibre gun was recovered from the car floor behind the driver’s seat.

The gun is believed to have belonged to Ms Price’s boyfriend, whose car she was driving at the time of the incident. The victim’s boyfriend is understood to be a security officer and his gun belt was also found in the car, according to police.

Officers performed CPR on Ms Price after the shooting until paramedics arrived; she later died at the scene.

Andre Price holds a photo of his daughter in his Milwaukee home (AP)

Ms Price’s mother and her one-year-old son were also in the car at the time, sitting in the front passenger seat.

Officials said the two-year-old boy was not riding in a car seat, a police statement did not mention if he was wearing a seatbelt.

Ms Price’s 28-year-old brother, Antonio Price, described his sister as “the best mom”.

Her father, Andre Price, said the family will focus on funeral arrangements and will need help with the costs. He said Ms Price also has an older daughter.

Police declined to comment on whether the case was being investigated as a potential crime.

It is not clear if Ms Price’s boyfriend will be charged in connection with the incident. He has not been arrested.

The incident comes less than two months after a mother in Florida was shot by her toddler while sitting in the driver’s seat of her car.

Jamie Gilt, 31, who is an outspoken and high-profile pro-gun activist, survived the shooting and faced criminal charges in relation to the incident.

Authorities said at the time they were also carrying out investigations relating to the child’s welfare in light of the incident.

Additional reporting by Associated Press