17-year-old critically hurt after getting hit by car outside of Children’s Mercy Park
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A 17-year-old girl is in the hospital fighting for her life after she was hit by a car outside of Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
The girl was hit just before 9 p.m. on Tuesday while she was crossing Village Parkway West at the intersection of France Family Drive, according to Kansas City, Kansas, police. She was hit by a car traveling north.
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The girl was taken to a hospital with “potential life-threatening injuries,” according to police. The identity of the girl has not been released by police.
“It is a tragic incident,” Nancy Chartrand, with KCKPD said. “This was something that should’ve been a fun night, and unfortunately, in a split second, everything changed.”
The driver that hit her remained at the scene and cooperated with police. The preliminary investigation does not indicate that weather, speed or driver impairment contributed to the crash.
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The accident occurred during the weather-delayed start of a U.S. Open Cup Match at Children’s Mercy Park.
Through witness interviews and surveillance video, at this point investigators believe the driver had a green light.
“We have shared responsibility between drivers and pedestrians,” Chartrand said, “and while pedestrians do have the right of way at a crosswalk, they also do have the responsibility to be aware of the signals and to be crossing with the signals.”
Chartrand said the driver remained on scene. Police do not believe the driver was impaired or speeding. They don’t believe weather played a role.
Chartrand said this intersection is well marked and lit. However, she said traffic officers were not working this intersection at the time of the crash.
“Our presence out there is not at every intersection, but at the areas where we have higher trafficked areas and usually at the beginning and ends of the game,” Chartrand said.
She said there are multiple avenues to cross safely.
A woman who went inside Children’s Mercy Park to attend the game said she heard sirens.
Amanda Snapp is a season ticket holder and would like to see more done.
“There needs to be somebody at those stoplights directing traffic and controlling cars when they go by, so they don’t hit anybody,” Snapp said.
The KU Football team is playing Thursday at Children’s Mercy Park for the first time. Sporting KC said. “There will be an increase in police officers and traffic enforcer staff.”
Sporting KC also said, “We are working closely with the Kansas City Kansas Police Department around this terrible occurrence and for any updates please reach out to Nancy Chartrand at the KCKPD.”
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