Louisiana boy, 7, crushed to death by truck after running after ball

A seven-year-old Louisiana boy was crushed to death by a city truck when the youngster was searching for his ball that rolled underneath the vehicle.

Kaidan Coke was playing outside his home around 7am Saturday morning in Ringgold, Bienville Parish, when his ball rolled under a parked Dodge Caravan.

When the unaware driver suddenly pulled out of the parking spot, Coke was still underneath and was crushed. The Bienville Parish Coroner’s Office, who arrived at the scene, pronounced the boy deceased. 

Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G are investigating the single-vehicle fatality crash. It's unclear at this time if the driver, whose name was not disclosed, will face any charges.

Little Kaidan was remembered as a 'good kid' who 'loved playing with his ball.'

Kaidan Coke, 7, was playing with his ball around 7am Saturday morning in Ringgold - Bienville Parish when his ball rolled under a parked Dodge Caravan at the 1300 block of School Street

His aunt wept as she told KSAL News how distraught she was. 'I saw the aftermath of him laying there. It's so hard on us. We loved him. He was a good kid. He loved playing with his ball'

His aunt wept as she told KSAL News how distraught she and the family were. 

Kaidan's grieving uncle, Damien Coke said in a GoFundMe that his nephew 'had so much love and joy to spread'

She said: 'I saw the aftermath of him laying there. We will never forget. It's so hard on us. We loved him. He was a good kid. He loved playing his ball.'

The family member told the news outlet that the truck that hit her nephew was a city truck for the water department. She said the driver is 'devastated.'

'He is a pretty decent guy,' she said. 'He was pulling off and Kaidan lost his ball and he didn't know Kaidan was in between the tires because there are four tires in the back.'

Friends and family gathered this weekend to mourn Kaidan and held a balloon release in his honor.

Kaidan's elementary school, Ringgold Elementary School was also planning another balloon release to remember the youngster, as per the news outlet. 

Louisiana State Troopers said the driver of the truck was not injured. 

They said the driver appeared not to be impaired, but routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. 

The incident remains under investigation.

Kaidan was a spirited youngster who loved to play with his ball, his aunt said during an emotional interview 

A GoFundMe was organized on Saturday by the boy's uncle, Damien Coke, who described his nephew, in part, as 'silly and filled with joy' to help pay for a funeral, cremation and headstone 

The driver was inside a Dodge Caravan (stock image)

A GoFundMe was organized by the boy's uncle, Damien Coke, to help pay for the youngster's funeral, cremation, and headstone.

He said the family did not have any insurance on their son.

The grieving uncle in the post, described his nephew as 'silly and filled with joy.'

'He was seven years old and had so much love and joy to spread,' he said in part.  

As of Monday afternoon nearly $5,000 was raised surpassing their initial goal of $2,000.