A 5-year-old girl died after being struck by a car near James A. Reed Park in Raytown, Missouri, and the driver fled without stopping. Emergency responders were called Tuesday night to reports of a person hit by a car on East 87th Street, just east of the park, and the girl later died from her injuries.
Investigators are still searching for the driver responsible.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
A Park Known for Foot Traffic, Not Fatal Crashes
James A. Reed Park sits at 8801 James A. Reed Road, just off East 87th Street. Listed by Kansas City Parks and Recreation, the park includes a playground, shelters, and trails — amenities that draw families and children to the area on foot.
The stretch of East 87th Street near Raytown Road has seen serious crashes before. In February 2024, a multi-vehicle collision there injured 11 people, including a toddler who suffered life-threatening injuries after being ejected from a vehicle. Authorities closed the roadway at approximately 1:30 p.m., according to the Martin Law Group.
What Missouri Law Says About Fleeing the Scene
Under Missouri law, leaving the scene of a crash that results in death is a Class D felony, independent of any fault determination in the crash itself, according to Vindex Law, PC. A conviction carries a potential prison sentence of up to seven years.
Drivers involved in any collision resulting in injury or death are required to immediately stop and provide their name, address, vehicle registration, and driver's license number to the victim or law enforcement, per Missouri statute. If the victim is incapacitated or no officer is present at the scene, drivers must report the crash to the nearest police station right away — a duty that applies regardless of who caused the crash, according to Beck Law.
Missouri's Traffic Death Toll
Missouri recorded 123 traffic fatalities across 112 fatal crashes in 2024, a 6.8% decrease from 132 deaths the year before.
Preliminary figures from the Missouri Department of Transportation show statewide traffic fatalities fell to 911 in 2025, down 5% from 2024, with 402 deaths recorded in the first two quarters of 2026, also a decline. More than half of fatal crashes involve an aggressive driver, underscoring the risks facing pedestrians, including children, on roads like East 87th Street.
For now, the circumstances that led the 5-year-old girl into the path of a car near the park remain under investigation, and the driver who left her behind has not been found.
