9-year-old boy injured in crash caused by man fleeing police has died

A 9-year-old boy who sustained critical injuries in a two-car accident on Wednesday at 51st Street and Woodland Avenue has died, Kansas City police said Friday.

The victim’s name has not been released. The wreck happened about 1:30 p.m. when Kaveon C. Cottonham, 18, of Grandview allegedly fled from a Kansas City police officer.

A witness told investigators that Cottonham saw the patrol car following him and then to his side with its emergency lights and siren activated, and apparently panicked. Cottonham thought the patrol officer was attempting to pull him over but the officer was on his way to a service call.

Cottonham accelerated past the police officer but crashed his car into a 2007 Hyundai Sonata at 51st Street and Woodland Avenue. Cottonham jumped out of the wrecked car and ran. The officer Cottonham sped past arrived at the crash scene moments later.

Cottonham was arrested after a short foot chase. Several people inside the Hyundai Sonata, including the 9-year-old boy, were rushed to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

Prosecutors on Thursday charged Cottonham with four counts of second-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident.

No additional criminal charges have been filed in connection to the child’s death.

This story was originally published July 14, 2017 at 12:54 PM with the headline "9-year-old boy injured in crash caused by man fleeing police has died."