By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
KANSAS CITY, MO — A 4-year-old Black child was fatally struck by an Amazon delivery van while playing near a park sidewalk in a residential Kansas City neighborhood. Police report the driver briefly stopped after the collision but left the scene before emergency responders arrived. One person has been taken into custody for investigation.
The incident occurred in the 1800 block of East Third Terrace, a residential area where children frequently play outside. Kansas City Police Department officials stated Tadens Joseph was on or near the sidewalk when struck by the marked Amazon delivery vehicle.
According to police reports, the driver stopped briefly following the collision. A family member attempted to follow the vehicle and later confronted the driver, who denied involvement in the crash. Law enforcement subsequently took one individual into custody for further investigation.
Detectives are currently gathering witness statements and reviewing the circumstances leading to the incident. The investigation involves scene reconstruction, video footage analysis, and forensic evidence examination. Police stated findings will be forwarded to prosecutors upon completion, a process expected to take several weeks.
Kansas City police confirmed they are coordinating with Amazon and a third-party delivery company involved in the case. Amazon issued a statement expressing condolences: Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family during this incredibly difficult time. We will fully cooperate with the police as they continue their investigation.
Family members remember Tadens as a joyful, energetic child who loved Spider-Man, soccer, pizza, and Lay’s chips. They described him as friendly and always smiling, frequently trying to include everyone in play. The family is grieving his loss while police continue their investigation into the fatal hit-and-run incident.