Bryan Stalder
Contributor

A young child is dead after being struck by a delivery vehicle Monday evening in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood, according to the Kansas City Police Department.

Officers were called at approximately 6:26 p.m. on May 4 to the area of Lexington Ave and Maple Blvd, on a reported pedestrian crash. Investigators say a marked Amazon delivery vehicle had just completed a package drop in the area and was traveling westbound on Missouri Ave toward Woodland Avenue when the incident occurred.

Preliminary findings indicate the child, described as under the age of 5, had been playing in a grassy area of a nearby public park before entering the roadway, where they were struck by the vehicle.

Police say the driver initially stopped at the scene but left prior to officers arriving. According to investigators, a family member attempted to follow the vehicle to a subsequent stop and inform the driver of what had happened. The driver reportedly denied involvement and left the area.

Emergency responders pronounced the child dead at the scene due to injuries sustained in the crash.

On Tuesday, May 5, the victim was identified as 4-year-old Taden Joseph.

KCPD reported on Tuesday, May 5, a suspect has been identified and taken into custody. The case remains under active investigation by KCPD’s Accident Investigation Section. The department noted this marks the 25th traffic fatality in Kansas City so far this year, compared to 21 at the same time last year.

The Northeast News extends its condolences to the child’s family and all those impacted by the tragedy.