A 6-year-old kindergartner was struck and killed by a landscaping truck outside his family’s apartment complex on Thursday, Jan. 15, as he rode a scooter with his older brother nearby, relatives said. The child, identified by family as Macree Snelling, died from his injuries despite efforts by first responders.
Authorities and family members said the collision happened just steps from the family’s home in a residential area on LaGrange’s west side. The boy’s 9-year-old brother witnessed the impact and ran to alert adults inside, relatives said. Local schools notified counseling teams, and neighbors placed stuffed animals and candles near the spot later that day. Police have not released the driver’s name or described any citations, and investigators said the case is open as they review statements and assess the truck and roadway. The death has shaken a community still returning to routine after the holidays.
Shortly before the crash, the brothers were outside near an internal drive of the complex, according to relatives who spoke with reporters over the weekend. A landscaping truck coming through the area struck the younger boy, who was riding a small scooter, family said. Adults called 911 and attempted to help until fire and EMS crews arrived. The child was transported and later pronounced dead. “It feels like an out-of-body experience. This is a nightmare,” the boy’s mother, Latouris Bell, said in a brief interview. His grandmother, Victoria Favors, said she wants answers. “How could you not see two kids out playing?” Favors said. Police have not publicly detailed the truck’s speed or the driver’s account of the moments before the impact.
Investigators spent hours collecting measurements and photographing the truck and pavement. They are reviewing private security video from the apartment complex and nearby businesses to piece together the approach and line of sight. Officers did not immediately say whether the driver remained at the scene; family members told reporters the driver stopped. Detectives have not announced an arrest. Officials have also not released information about field sobriety checks, phone records, or mechanical inspections of the truck, steps that are typical in fatal-crash investigations. The local medical examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death. As of late Tuesday, police said the case remained active with no additional details.
Relatives described Macree as a lively kindergartner who loved Spider-Man and made friends easily. He attended Callaway Elementary School, where administrators said counselors would be available to classmates and staff. “He was that energetic kid who was always on the go,” Favors said, recalling how he lit up family gatherings. The family said they plan to honor him with a Spider-Man-themed service. Neighbors set small tokens at the complex entrance — crayons, a toy scooter, a red-and-blue mask — and left notes taped to a lamppost. A school parent said teachers spoke softly with students about loss and reminded families that resources are available.
The apartment complex sits off a low-speed internal loop that connects to a busier corridor lined with small businesses and service trucks. Residents said landscaping crews regularly enter the property on weekdays and sometimes on weekends to maintain common areas. After the crash, workers paused as investigators cordoned off a section of pavement with cones and tape. A maintenance cart ferried officers between corners of the lot as technicians photographed skid marks and measured distances between a scraped curb and a set of chalk outlines near scattered scooter parts. Police did not specify whether the child was in a crosswalk or driveway throat when he was struck.
Fatal collisions involving commercial vehicles and young children remain rare but wrenching, traffic officials said. Investigations of these crashes typically reconstruct sight lines at child height, measure turning paths of long-wheelbase trucks, and analyze stop-and-go patterns inside apartment lots where service vehicles mix with children at play. Experts note that small scooters sit low to the ground and can be difficult to spot over high hoods or mower racks if a driver’s attention is divided. Officers often test whether mirrors and backup cameras were properly positioned and whether anything in the cab obstructed the right-side view during a slow turn.
LaGrange police said they are working with prosecutors to determine whether any traffic or criminal charges are warranted once the reconstruction is complete. That review often includes toxicology if indicated, speed estimates, and an assessment of duty-of-care standards for commercial drivers in residential zones. Investigators also collect company logs that show work orders, route timing and equipment lists for the day, and they may examine whether the truck had a spotter or audible warning devices while maneuvering near homes. Officials have not released those documents, and the landscaping firm has not commented publicly.
The loss has rippled through the neighborhood. A pastor who visits families at the complex said residents gathered quietly near a stairwell over the weekend to pray for the boy’s mother and brother. “People don’t know what to say except that their hearts hurt,” he said. Two teens who often kick a soccer ball on the same strip of pavement said they saw police cars, then the tape, but didn’t realize a child from their building was involved until later. A delivery driver who passed through after the crash said he watched officers kneel to measure from a curb edge to a chalk X on the pavement.
By early this week, a handful of flowers and a small poster board reading “Forever 6” marked the spot near the lot’s entrance. A neighbor set out a clear storage bin to protect cards from rain. At Callaway Elementary, a counselor said staff members were checking in with classmates and offering time in a quiet room for those who wanted to talk. School officials said they would share any memorial details in coordination with the family. A local youth coach said he recognized the boy from a summer day camp and remembered him as “tiny, fast, and always smiling.”
Police said they will update the public after the reconstruction and prosecutor review. That timeline can take days or weeks depending on lab work, available video and witness availability. Officials have not scheduled a press briefing but said additional information would be released when appropriate. In the meantime, relatives said they are focused on supporting the boy’s brother, who saw the crash and ran for help. “He was brave,” a family member said. “He did what he could in a moment no child should ever face.”
As of Wednesday, the investigation remained active with no announced charges. The next milestone is completion of the crash reconstruction and any charging decisions from prosecutors, followed by memorial arrangements shared by the family and the school community.
Author note: Last updated January 21, 2026.