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Police: 2-year-old girl dies after parent hits her with vehicle at Pittsburgh-area home

Police: 2-year-old girl struck, killed by vehicle in Penn Hills
Police: 2-year-old girl struck, killed by vehicle in Penn Hills 01:17

PENN HILLS, Pa. (KDKA) -- A 2-year-old girl is dead after police said a parent leaving their Penn Hills home hit her with a vehicle. 

According to Allegheny County police, just before 8 a.m. on Thursday, they were alerted to a child who was hit by a vehicle on Lynnwood Drive. 

Once police arrived, they said they found the 2-year-old girl at the end of the driveway with severe injuries. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.  

Police said an early investigation found that the parent was leaving the home and struck the child with the vehicle. Police said the parent is cooperating with their investigation.

A neighbor, Dominique Plater said she heard screaming and ran outside. She said the child's mother was behind the wheel and there were other kids in the car when it happened. 

"I just heard her scream and ask for help. At first when I heard the screaming, I just thought it was kids playing around," Plater said. 

"Definitely keeping her other children in my thoughts, prayers. It's definitely something that could happen to anybody. So to think, like, it can't be you. It was a regular day. So for it to happen the way it did is unbelievable."

The medical examiner identified the girl as Leah Mutombo. 

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