Witnesses are sought in Overland Park wreck that killed toddler

The driver charged in a traffic crash that killed a 17-month-old girl Saturday allegedly fled from police who tried to pull him over a few minutes earlier, Overland Park police said Wednesday.

A deputy with the Johnson County sheriff’s office tried to stop a speeding vehicle about 2:45 p.m. Saturday on 175th Street east of Gardner, police said.

The vehicle, a red sedan, fled east on 175th Street at a “high rate of speed.” The deputy discontinued the pursuit because of public safety concerns, police said.

Dispatchers continued to field calls about the speeding vehicle, and at one point it struck another vehicle but continued east.

At 175th and Pflumm Road, the sedan collided with a silver car, which then collided with a pickup truck.

A toddler, Addilynn Poole, died from her injuries. Her mother and her mother’s 8-year-old stepbrother were injured.

Addilynn’s 20-year-old mother was released from the hospital Tuesday night, said Rusty Railey, pastor of Cross Point Church in Paola, Kan., which the Poole family attends.

The injured boy remained in intensive care Wednesday. Doctors have said he might remain in the hospital for two months, according to Railey.

He said church members have rallied to help the family.

A fund to help with funeral expenses has been set up. Donors can click on the give link on the church website cpchurch.tv.

Johnson County prosecutors charged 39-year-old Boyd Allen Chism of Shawnee with involuntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated battery.

His bond is set at $500,000, and he is being held in the Johnson County jail. No attorney is listed for Chism in court records.

Overland Park police ask anyone who witnessed the crash or who was in the area shortly before or after the wreck to call police at 913-895-6300.

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Witnesses are sought in Overland Park wreck that killed toddler."