WABAUNSEE COUNTY, Kan. (TNND) — A 2-year-old girl has died after being critically injured in a crash along Interstate 70 in Kansas, according to authorities.
The Kansas Highway Patrol identified the child as Diora Lewis. The crash occurred on March 15 near the Paxico Rest Area shortly before 5 p.m., according to a crash report.
Diora Lewis, Death, Obituary, 2-Year-Old Girl Dies Following Crash in Wabaunsee CountyInvestigators say a 2007 Ford F-150 carrying the child and her family veered off the roadway for unknown reasons. The driver then overcorrected, causing the vehicle to cross multiple lanes before striking a limestone embankment in the median.
Diora was traveling in the truck with her mother and three siblings, ages 16, 14, and 11. While the driver and the other children sustained minor injuries, the toddler suffered critical injuries. She was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where she died three days later.
Authorities reported that the child was seated on the lap of a front-seat passenger at the time of the crash. Kansas law requires children under the age of 4 to be properly secured in a car seat.
Officials emphasize that young children should remain in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, following manufacturer guidelines for height and weight limits, as it provides the highest level of protection.
The crash remains under investigation.
