Four-Year-Old Killed After Returning From Father’s Funeral

A four-year-old in Pennsylvania was tragically struck and killed yesterday in a vehicle accident after attending the funeral of his dad that same day.

Soon after the funeral services, the preschooler apparently exited from a parked car in Chester, Pa., into the path of a passenger van. “According to investigators, the child had been watching a DVD in his family’s gold Dodge Charger parked near the corner of East 11th and Upland Streets, on the city’s east side. He leaped from the backseat upon seeing his mother outside and was struck by a late-model Ford passenger van as members of his family looked on.”

EMTs rushed the boy to a nearby hospital where he tragically was pronounced dead from his injuries.

The van operator remained at the scene until first responders and police arrived and was questioned by detectives. It appears no charges will be filed. The incident is being considered an accident at this time.

At the time of the accident at about 5 pm yesterday evening, the family had just returned from funeral services for the little boy’s father, who died last week from gunshot wounds. Police indicated that the dad was an innocent bystander in a crossfire. That case is still under investigation.

Arriving at the scene, Chester Mayor John Linder said that “No one wants to go through that and bury a son and then have to bury a grandson. You can’t explain it.” Added Police Commissioner Joseph Bail, “My grandson is only a couple years older than this child. Anytime you deal with children, it’s just a hopeless … you’re helpless. And your heart goes out to the family to try to support them.”

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