A 2-year-old Milford boy died early Wednesday morning after swallowing a screw that had come loose from a piece of furniture, obstructing his airway and causing him to choke, Milford police said.
“The death is a tragic accident,” Police Chief Tom O’Loughlin said in a statement.
The Worcester district attorney’s office reported the case is being investigated as a nonsuspicious death.
After the toddler’s father called police at about 12:30 a.m., the 2-year-old was taken to Milford Regional Medical Center, police said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.
State Police and Milford detectives determined the screw had become detached from a piece of furniture in the Water Street home, police said.
“Given that this is a medical call that resulted in a death, we will not be releasing the name of the child or family,” the police statement said.
Globe correspondent Jennifer Smith contributed to this report. Catalina Gaitan can be reached at catalina.gaitan@
globe.com.