NEED TO KNOW
- The Kansas City Police Department said a van fatally struck a girl riding her bike on the morning of Oct. 14
- A GoFundMe started by relatives identified the victim as 9-year-old Hazen Workman-Duffy
- Police said the investigation into the incident is ongoing
A 9-year-old girl was fatally struck by a van while riding her bike on her way to school in Kansas City, Mo.
In an email shared with PEOPLE, the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) said authorities were notified about a critical injury crash at Longview Road and Food Lane around 7:19 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Police said that according to an initial investigation, a white Ford Transit van was moving northbound on Food Lane Drive and was turning westbound onto Longview Road at the intersection.
“At the same time, a juvenile female was riding her bicycle within the marked crosswalk and had a green signal. The van struck the bicyclist, causing her to fall to the roadway,” the KCPD said in the email.
Witness Ruby Perkins told CBS affiliate KCTV, “We pulled over on the side, and we both ran over to her. Then another lady started performing CPR on her.”
Kailey Thompson also saw the crash while at the intersection, and later told NBC affiliate KSHB, “I saw the little girl coming from the same direction as [the driver] on the crosswalk. He looked like he just didn’t see her and smacked into her and immediately pulled over and got out of the car.”
The victim was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the KCPD said. The driver of the truck reportedly remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.
Thompson recalled the driver being devastated.
“He was on his knees holding this girl’s arm, praying over her,” Thompson said, per KSHB.
Police did not identify the victim, but relatives said she was Hazen Workman-Duffy, 9, according to KCTV and a GoFundMe.
“Hazen was a 9-year-old ball of fire that enjoyed life. She was a girl that enjoyed many things drawing, coloring, biking, swimming, playing with her friends and snuggling her stuffed axolotl. Hazen also loved to give hugs, and they were the best hugs that could turn a bad day into a great day!” read the fundraiser description.
The GoFundMe stated that Hazen was riding her bike to school that morning when the collision happened.
“Hazen’s sudden passing has left her family heartbroken,” the fundraiser addded.
The girl was a student at Ingels Elementary School, according to the Hickman Mills School District.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the student’s family, friends, and the Ingels Elementary community,” the district said in a statement, according to Fox affiliate WDAF. “Counselors and support staff are available to assist students and staff as they process this tragic loss.”
The school district and the GoFundMe organizer did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for additional information.
Perkins told WDAF that she called the victim’s mother after she searched the girl’s backpack for family contact information and came across a permission slip to visit the zoo.
“One of the toughest conversations that I’ve ever had to have in my life. My daughter is a year younger than her daughter,” Perkins told the outlet. “I stayed on the phone with her until she got up to the scene.”
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The KCPD told PEOPLE that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing because authorities are still processing evidence, reconstructing the crash and awaiting the autopsy results from the medical examiner’s office.
“Once those things have been completed, the case will be submitted to the Jackson County Prosecutors office for the consideration of applicable charges,” police said.
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