2-year-old girl struck, killed in Haverford YMCA parking lot

HAVERFORD >> A 2-year-old girl was struck and killed by a car in the parking lot of the township YMCA Saturday afternoon, police said.

The incident occurred just before 12:30 p.m. in the busy parking lot of the YMCA near the intersection of North Eagle Road and Lawrence Road.

It is believed the child may have gotten away from her mother, who was trying to put her in the car, then sat down in a parking spot when a car pulled into the spot. The driver apparently never saw the girl and struck her as he was pulling into the parking spot.

The toddler was walking with her parents in the lot when she was struck by a 2019 Acura MDX, according to Haverford Sgt. Shant Bedrossian.

The girl was transported to Lankenau Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The identify of the child has not yet been released.

No charges have been filed, according to Haverford police, who are simply referring to the incident as a tragic accident.

Bedrossian said medical attention immediately responded and administered medical aid but determined the child needed to be transported to Lankenau Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

“It’s a very tragic accident that occurred that was a fatality,” Bedrossian said.

He said the driver of the striking vehicle stayed after the incident and is cooperating with police. Police took statements from both the driver and the parents.

Bedrossian said there is no evidence of malice or intent in the incident.

He added that the investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the Haverford Township Police Department Special Operations Division.

“It clearly is a tragic crash,” he said. “It’s just a tragic accident.”

The YMCA closed early as a result of the “tragic accident,” police said.

YMCA President Shaun Elliott, who oversees several YMCAs in the region including the one in Haverford, said, “unfortunately it’s one of those accidents that really could happen anywhere and it doesn’t make it any easier.”

The officials said the organization is ready to assist all involved in the incident, including staff, family of the little girl and the driver.

The relatively new YMCA is one of the most popular in the region, routinely visited daily by hundreds of local residents.