Nairah Johnson, 4-years-old, killed in Glendale Walmart parking lot after being hit by a truck

March 3, 2021

GLENDALE, AZ – A 4-year-old girl was killed, and three other family members were injured after they were struck by a truck in a Walmart parking lot in Glendale. The crash happened just before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on March 3, 2021, in the parking lot near 56th and Northern avenues.

City of Glendale spokesperson Jose Santiago says a family of five had crossed the Walmart parking lot and were walking along the sidewalk heading into the store when they were struck.

Santiago says a 68-year-old woman in a black Nissan Frontier had been backing out of a parking spot, stopped, then went forward back into the spot. When doing so, police say she hit another car, and her vehicle went up on the sidewalk, striking the family.

A crash outside a Glendale Walmart this morning left a 4-year-old girl dead and three of her family members injured.

During the impact, officials say the 4-year-old girl, Nairah Johnson, was pinned under the truck. Santiago says the driver then hit two more cars before coming to a stop. The girl was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries but later died.

The girl’s 3-year-old brother Robert and their mother were also taken to the hospital, but their injuries were not life-threatening. The children’s grandmother was also hurt in the crash, and she was treated at the scene.

Police say the driver remained on the scene and is being cooperative. Impairment is not believed to be a factor, but the investigation is ongoing. Santiago says she was borrowing the truck from someone else.

“We’re not sure whether or not she just wasn’t familiar with how to use that vehicle or what really played a factor,” Santiago said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up with a goal to raise $10,000 for funeral expenses.  We extend our condolences to the family of Nairah Johnson over this tragic loss.

Source: 3TV/CBS 5