GoFundMe started for family of KC boy struck, killed by Amazon delivery van
A GoFundMe fundraising page has been established for the family of a 4-year-old boy struck and killed by a vehicle making deliveries for Amazon earlier this month.
Tadens Joseph died after a delivery van from a third-party company making deliveries for Amazon struck him around 6:30 p.m. on May 4 on a quiet, no-outlet drive outside his home in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood.
Police said the child had been playing in the grassy area of Maple Park near his home in the 1800 block of East Third Terrace. He entered the street and was struck by the Amazon-branded truck. He died from his injuries.
The driver initially stopped, but then allegedly left the scene before officers arrived. Investigators contacted Amazon and the local delivery company and were able to identify the driver, who was taken into custody. She was released pending further investigation.
Complex investigations, like this one, can take several weeks to complete, police said at the time. Once the investigation is completed, it will be submitted to prosecutors for review and to determine whether any charges are warranted.
An update on the investigation was not immediately available on Friday.
On Thursday, a spokesperson for GoFundMe verified the fundraiser for Tadens Joseph’s family. The fundraising page, created on May 8, has received 50 donations and raised $3,680 so far, a little over half of the $6,500 goal.
Mary Crawford, who set up the page for the family, said the Kansas City community is heartbroken after the tragic loss.
“Tadens was a sweet, loving little boy whose smile brought joy to everyone around him,” Crawford wrote. “No family should ever have to experience this kind of pain, especially while also facing unexpected financial burdens.”
Funds raised will help cover funeral and memorial expenses, provide support for the family as they take time away from work to grieve, and assist with any additional expenses.
Funeral services for Tadens were held May 16.
