ST. JOSEPH — A Chillicothe boy is dead as the result of a traffic accident and authorities are trying to identify the driver of a vehicle which led to the deadly two vehicle crash near St. Joseph Friday evening.
Keenan Anthony Lee Hershberger, 10, died in the accident. He was the son of Christopher Shawn Hershberger, of St. Joseph, and Jenny Lee Baker, of Chillicothe. Keenan was one of three passengers in a 2002 Chrysler Sebring driven by his father, Christopher Hershberger, 34.
The accident occurred at 8:33 p.m. Friday on U.S. Highway 59, two miles south of St. Joseph, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The patrol report states that the Hershberger vehicle and a 2001 Jeep Cherokee, with an unknown driver, were traveling south on U.S. Highway 59 when the Jeep struck the rear of the Hershberger vehicle. The Hershberger vehicle lost control, traveled off the west side of the roadway, overturned several times and came to rest on its wheels off the west side of the highway. The driver of the Jeep left the scene prior to law enforcement arrival.
A summons is pending on the driver of the Jeep. Keenan was pronounced dead at 11:07 a.m. on Sunday at Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Christopher Hershberger and his son, Christopher, 13, as well as another passenger, Robert Duncan, 52, received minor injuries in the accident and were transported by private vehicle to Heartland Regional Medical Center.
The Patrol is continuing its investigation.
“We are working on it and have made progress,” said Patrol Sgt. Sheldon Lyon.