Mother speaks out after child’s death
STAMFORD — Speaking publicly for the first time since a tragedy took her young son’s life, a New Canaan mother on Monday shared her grief with the community, which she thanked for rallying around her family.
Kate McGee, the mother of Lucas “Lukey” Richard McGee, who was nearly two years old when he was struck by a car in a New Canaan driveway last week, described the horrific event in a letter she submitted to Hearst Connecticut Media.
She said Lukey died after suffering severe head trauma Dec. 10.
“He was 21 days shy of his second birthday,” she wrote. “We experienced the unimaginable.”
McGee wrote about her third son being a surprise, which she found out about only two days before she and her family moved from New York City to New Canaan.
In the letter, McGee revisited the decision to move to the Connecticut town.
“What could I have done to prevent this? How did a million microdecisions —
and, at times, bigger decisions like moving to a place where we drive cars and have driveways, and don’t have bolt locks and doormen and our amazing nanny — cause such a horrific outcome?” she wrote.
McGee expressed gratitude to be in a community like New Canaan. A GoFundMe for the family has already raised over $25,000.
“In the days since I have started to emerge from the fog, one thing has become clear: This town, the hearts of fellow parents and our unbelievable
tribe of family, friends, acquaintances and neighbors are carrying our family through,” she wrote.
She concluded the letter saying, “For this, we are forever grateful.”
New Canaan Police Lt. Jason Ferraro said an investigation into the incident is still ongoing and did not release any new information about it on Monday.
Last Tuesday, the New Canaan Police Department received a 911 call at 8:42 a.m. about a young child struck by a vehicle in the driveway of a North Wilton Road home.
“The gravely injured child was transported to Norwalk Hospital, where emergency room personnel provided emergency care. Despite the valiant efforts of many first responders, and emergency room personnel, the child succumbed to grave injuries,” Ferraro said.
In an obituary the family asked for donations to the New Canaan Nature Center, where Lucas attended preschool.
“He was cherished by all who knew him,” read the obituary. “His smiles and hugs brightened everyone’s day and his uncontrollable belly laugh when tickled provided hours of fun for everyone around him.”