One in custody after child struck by Amazon delivery van in northeast Kansas City
A person of interest is in custody Tuesday after an Amazon delivery van struck and killed a 4-year-old in Kansas City’s Pendleton Heights neighborhood Monday evening.
Investigators “worked throughout the night and day” following the fatal crash, which occurred just before 6:30 p.m. in the 1800 block of East Third Terrace, Capt. Jake Becchina, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department, said in a news release Tuesday.
The driver had just delivered a package in the area before heading west on Third Terrace, where they struck 4-year-old Tadens Joseph, Becchina said. Tadens entered the street while playing in a grassy area of Maple Park.
The driver initially stopped, Becchina said, but then allegedly drove from the scene before officers arrived. A family member followed the vehicle to a subsequent stop, where the driver reportedly denied being involved and left the area.
Tadens died as a result of his injuries, Becchina said.
A person of interest was taken into custody in connection to the incident Tuesday, Becchina said. Both Amazon and a 3rd party delivery driving service cooperated in the investigation.
“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.”
Detectives will work with prosecutors to assemble evidence, including “reconstruction, witness interviews” and forensic or video evidence to submit to prosecutors for charging consideration.
“These are complex investigations and many times can take several weeks to complete,” Becchina said. “It is important to get all of the evidence compiled to present a comprehensive picture of the events.”
