KCTV 5Family mourns loss after child hit by car dies

A family is grieving the loss of a 3-year-old girl. She died after being hit by a car over the weekend.

The start of a new year is supposed to be a happy occasion filled with hope, but that's not how it began for one Kansas City, KS, family. They are devastated after 3-year-old Yoseline, or Elia, Portillo was killed crossing the street in the 1600 block of Washington Boulevard as they returned home from a New Year's Eve party with relatives early Sunday morning.

"She meant the world to everyone, very sweet and full of joy and energy," said Carmen Lorenzana, the child's godmother.

Lorenzana, an apartment manager, became very close to Yoseline and her family, so close that she agreed to baptize Yoseline.

She said everyone is heartbroken the little girl's life ended late Monday.

Yoseline had just gotten home with her mother, two siblings and another adult from a New Year's celebration when the horrible car accident happened.

"Yoseline was crossing the street with family members when she stopped to look for her mom and the white car hit her and threw her 20 feet away," said Lorenzana.

Yoseline was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries, but she died the next day.

The street lights where the accident happened were out the night of the accident because of a car crash less than 24 hours prior that damaged one of the poles. BPU, the Board of Public Utilities, wasn't able to fix the lights until Tuesday, but the family said that's too late.

"It's very sad and unfortunate because that would have helped a lot and possibly saved her life. They just fixed it and it's too late, and there's now light and electricity there, but that won't bring her back," said Lorenzana.

Yoseline's mother was scheduled to speak to the media Tuesday afternoon, but the family said she is still too fragile and, right now, they are joining together to help her through the tragedy. They are putting up donation boxes across the city to help the family bury the little girl.

"As a family, we just have to stick together, be strong and overcome this big tragedy, this big loss. Even though she was a little girl, it's a big loss," said Lorenzana.

The driver that hit Yoseline stopped and has cooperated with authorities.

No charges are expected to be filed.

In the meantime, officials with BPU said their policy is to repair damaged lights the next business day which, due to the New Year's holiday, was Tuesday.

They said this kind of situation has never happened before, but officials plan to discuss the chain of events to see what can be done in the future.

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