KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department said a 5-year-old boy died Saturday after being struck by a falling tree on Wednesday, May 27.
The child was pronounced dead at 3:03 p.m. Saturday after being removed from life support, KCPD said.
Kansas City, Missouri, police are now treating this incident as a death investigation.
We reached out to the family of the 5-year-old boy — they said they just want privacy and prayers at this point.
We also reached out to Kansas City Parks & Recreation, which owns the area. The department did not provide a statement and directed us to contact KCPD.
On May 27, shortly after 10 a.m., KCFD was notified about a person struck by a falling tree near NW 68th Street and NW Waukomis Drive.
Upon arrival, fire crews determined that a large tree had fallen on a child.
KCPD said the tree fell on the boy as he was playing in a creek.
Gerald Kutz, a Northland resident who visits Line Creek Trail every week, says the news is devastating.
"I'm very sad for the family and sad that this happened," Kutz said.
Kutz says the trail is a popular destination for families.
"I know this is a great trail for families to come down and use the creek," Kutz said. "Such a rare occurrence for something like that to happen."
He also says falling trees are not an uncommon sight along the trail.
"Well, I've ridden the trail enough to know that trees frequently fall," Kutz said.
Oscar Velasquez, who also rides his bike on the trail, says he has seen branches and trees on the ground there before.
In an interview in his native Spanish, he also said he feels very sorry for the family.
"It hurts me a lot that this happened. I am very sorry for the family members," Velasquez said.
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