WABAUNSEE COUNTY, Kan. (TNND) — A tragic incident occurred in Kansas, where a 2-year-old girl lost her life following significant injuries sustained in a car crash while seated on her sibling's lap, as reported by authorities.
The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) identified the child as Diora Lewis. The accident took place on March 15, just before 5 p.m. along Interstate 70, near the Paxico Rest Area, according to a crash report from KHP.
A 2007 Ford F-150, carrying Diora and her family, veered off the road “for an unknown reason” and overcorrected. The vehicle then crossed multiple traffic lanes before colliding with a limestone embankment located in the median, KHP stated.
At the time of the crash, the toddler was traveling with her mother and three siblings, aged 16, 14, and 11. While the driver and the other children sustained minor injuries, the 2-year-old was critically injured and died three days later at Children's Mercy Hospital, according to KHP.
Officials noted that the child was “seated on the lap of the front seat passenger” during the incident. Under Kansas law, children under the age of 4 are required to be secured in a car seat. The KHP emphasized this regulation, stating, “All children under four are required to ride in a car seat. Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It's the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.”
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.