Kansas City neighborhood mourns child killed by Amazon van. ‘Our thoughts are with you’
A Kansas City Northeast area neighborhood is heartbroken after a young child was struck and killed by an Amazon delivery van whose driver allegedly left the scene before police arrived.
The fatal crash occurred about 6:25 p.m. Monday in the 1800 block of East Third Terrace in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood, said Capt. Jake Becchina of the Kansas City Police Department.
“The Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association expresses our deepest condolences to all family and friends of our young neighbor who lost their life tragically last night,” said Patricia Carter, the neighborhood association’s president.
“Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. Please let us know if there are ways neighbors can be a support.”
A preliminary investigation found that the Amazon driver had just delivered a package and was headed west on Third Terrace toward Woodland Avenue, Becchina said.
The child, who had been playing in the grassy area of Maple Park, entered the street and was struck by the Amazon-branded delivery vehicle. The driver stopped, but then allegedly left the scene before officers arrived, Becchina said.
A family member followed after the van to another stop and told the driver what had just happened. The driver allegedly denied being involved and left the area, Becchina said.
The child died from the injuries suffered in the crash, Becchina said.
“Traffic injuries and fatalities are unfortunately an ongoing problem in our area and PHNA will continue advocating for additional traffic calming infrastructure and measures in our neighborhood to help protect our neighbors of all ages,” Carter said.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas urged drivers to use caution while driving near city parks in a post on social media Tuesday morning.
“Please slow down while driving near our parks,” Lucas said in the post on X, formerly Twitter. “We should never have to bury a three-year-old who was playing at the park. Control what you can control. Keep your eyes open for our young people and our pedestrians of all ages.”
Amazon responds to fatal crash
An Amazon spokesperson said the company would cooperate with Kansas City police as they investigate the crash.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the child’s family during this incredibly difficult time,” Jesus Garcia, Amazon’s public relations manager, said in an email. “We’ll cooperate fully with the Kansas City Police Department in their active investigation and defer to them for additional details.”
The investigation remains ongoing, Becchina said shortly before noon Tuesday, adding the information released Monday night was the most current.
Investigators are making headway identifying a “subject of interest,” he said. The vehicle involved is believed to be a marked Amazon delivery van.
Becchina declined to answer other follow-up questions, including whether Amazon was cooperating with the investigation, whether this was considered a hit-and-run crash, and whether the van involved had been found or seized. He said the answers to those questions are part of the ongoing investigation.
