UPDATE (May 13, 2023):
The Allen County Coroner has identified the child killed in an accident on Bass Road. (Original story below)
The coroner released the following:
On Tuesday, May 9th, 2023, the Allen County Coroner’s Office was notified of a motor vehicle crash versus pedestrian in the 4500 Block of Bass Road, in Fort Wayne. The pedestrian struck was transported to a local hospital and later pronounced deceased.
The pedestrian struck was identified as Wayne G. Merritt, 1 year old, male, White of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Notification has been made to the next of kin and an autopsy has been completed. The Cause of Death is Blunt Force Injuries due to Motor Vehicle Versus Pedestrian Crash and the Manner of Death is Accident.
Wayne G. Merritt is the 16th motor vehicle fatality for Allen County in 2023.
The incident remains under investigation by the Allen County Police Department, the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Allen County Coroner’s Office.
ORIGINAL STORY:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The Allen County Sheriff’s Department says that a child has died following a crash in a driveway off Bass Road Tuesday night.
Just before 8:30, officers responded to the 4500 block of Bass Road close to Thomas Road.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Department says that it appears that an SUV was backing out of a driveway when it hit the child who was taken to the hospital but later pronounced dead.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Department didn’t release any further information and said that this is an ongoing investigation.
The following was issued Tuesday night:
On May 9, 2023, at approximately 8:26 P.M., officers with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department responded to the 4500 block of Bass Road reference a personal injury vehicle crash.
The preliminary investigation indicated an adult was backing out of a driveway in an SUV and struck a small child. The child was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced deceased.
This is an active and ongoing investigation.
The Allen County Coroner’s Office will release the cause and manner of death, as well as the identity of the victim.
