Utah: Family grieving after toddler Ada Hansen killed by truck, two years after father’s drowning

Unspeakable tragedy has struck a family twice in two years after a toddler was hit and killed by a truck in the US.

Grieving relatives are rallying behind Utah mother Kyley Hansen, after her young daughter Ada was killed just two years following the devastating loss of another family member.

Tragedy first struck when her husband, Layton Hansen drowned during a pool party Independence Day celebration in 2023.

Left to raise new born Ada alone while grieving her partner, Ms Hansen, who was identified via a GoFundMe page set up by the family, is now facing a second wave of grief.

Her two-year-old daughter was struck and killed by the truck on Friday, September 5.

“First responders arrived at the parking lot of a Shiny Shell Carwash, where the two-year-old girl had been struck by a vehicle,” the Layton City Police Department said in a statement.

“She was flown to a hospital in critical condition, but later died from her injuries.”

Preliminary investigations found that Ms Hansen was parked next to the truck driven by an 18-year-old man.

“Two children were outside of the vehicles when the driver completed cleaning his vehicle and began to leave,” police said.

“The two-year-old child, positioned near the front passenger side of the truck, was struck. The driver has been fully cooperative with investigators.”

The child had been playing in a gated playground, but her four-year-old sister let them both out, and the pair began walking together because Ada wanted her mother, the children’s aunt told KSTU.

“Her sister said that she was holding her hand, and she tried to stop it, and she said she couldn’t, he didn’t see, but she tried to put her hands up and say stop,” Lauren Paskett said.

“She was quite literally everybody’s baby and we just loved and cherished her. She is so sweet.

“It’s been easier knowing that she’s with her dad, because he did pass away two years before that,” she added.

Details of the family have been added to the GoFundMe page and with an outpouring of emotion around the incident.

“Ada is survived by her three other siblings — Asher, 9, Naomi, 7 and Violet, 4 — in addition to their mother.

“There is no blame in this heartbreaking accident — only compassion.”

According to the obituary, Ada was born a few months after her father died.

“Every day of Ada’s life was filled with care, laughter, and joy from her devoted family,” the obituary said.