A four-year-old girl has died after being hit by a van while walking on the pavement with her family.
Cordelia Kuether was fatally hit by the van in the city of Sheboygan, in the US state of Wisconsin, on Wednesday, April 12.
The young girl had reportedly stopped on the pavement to pet a dog while out on a walk with her family when the van collided with a pick-up truck and veered off the street and onto the pavement, fatally hitting her.
A two-year-old child, understood to be Cordelia's sibling, was also reportedly injured, with the police saying that their mother witnessed the crash.
The Sheboygan Police Department (SPD) has said that the tragic incident took place after the van and the pickup truck collided at the intersection, adding that the crash was caused by a 23-year-old driver who did not see a 76-year-old driver coming down a side street.
The police said that the 23-year-old driver had at first stopped at a stop sign but may have failed to see the other car coming due to a parked vehicle.
News agency Newsflash obtained a statement from the SPD dated April 12 and saying: "On 4/12/23 around 5pm the Sheboygan Police Department and Sheboygan Fire Department responded to a two-vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of N. 21st Street and Saemann Avenue in the City of Sheboygan.
"A pick-up truck operating southbound on N. 21st Street collided with a vehicle that was eastbound on Saemann Avenue.
"As a result of the crash, an involved vehicle left the roadway and struck a group of pedestrians. Among the pedestrians struck was a 4-year-old girl that sustained a fatal injury and tragically lost her life. Three other individuals were transported to local hospitals for treatment of minor injuries.
"The drivers of both vehicles remained on scene and are cooperating with the investigation. The investigation is ongoing. The Sheboygan Police Department would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to all involved in this tragic incident."
The police are quoted in local media as saying the incident appeared to have been caused by the failure of one party to yield at a two-way stop sign.
A GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Cordelia's funeral expenses had notched up over $38,000 (£30,500) at the time of writing, out of a $15,000 (£12,000) goal, with the summary, written by a Krista Jones, saying: "Yesterday evening my Nephew, Devon Kuether, lost his 4 year old Daughter, Cordelia, in a tragic, unforeseen and unfortunate accident in Sheboygan last night.
"No parent should ever have to face the death of one of their children. Cordelia, her mother Ezra and her younger sister Lily were simply out for a walk in a quiet neighborhood in town enjoying the recent nice weather when tragedy hit them out of nowhere.
"The incident is under investigation so no further details will be shared at this time aside from what is made public on the Sheboygan Police Departments Public information portals.
"The parents are requesting this Gofundme to help cover the cost of Funeral expenses and medical expenses which they do not have the funds for at this time. All Funds will go directly to the parents, Devon and Ezra."
The police investigation is ongoing.
At the time of writing, no arrests had been made.
