OAK GROVE, Ky. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Ebony and Marcus Rogers are deeply grieved over the loss of their 5-year-old daughter, MarQuana DeWayne’ McClure.
MarQuana was tragically killed on Friday, May 29 in Oak Grove, Ky. after being struck by a truck towing a trailer.
Kentucky State Police were contacted by the Oak Grove Police Department to investigate a fatal collision on May 29, around 4:55 p.m., according to a news release from KSP Trooper James Austin.
Preliminary investigation revealed two girls, MarQuana, 5, and her aunt Nadia Coats, 11 were attempting to cross Pembroke Oak Grove Road, around the 700 block, when they stepped into the path of a 1992 Dodge Dakota pickup towing a trailer. The operator of the Dodge was Wanda Sydnor, 63, of Russellville, Ky.
Both MarQuana and Nadia were struck. MarQuana was pronounced dead at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital. Nadia is recovering from a leg injury.
Marcus and Ebony Rogers said they have many questions about the investigation and have not received satisfactory information from the Kentucky State Police concerning the progress of the case or whether charges will be levied against the driver.
Trooper Austin said a victim advocate has been in contact with the family as well as the lead investigator, to make sure the family’s needs are met.
“Investigating a fatal collision is a lengthy process, in which we do interviews, investigate to obtain any possible video footage, obtain blood from any operator involved, and download electronic data from vehicles,” Trooper Austin said. “The investigation then goes through a peer review with our Critical Incident Response Team in Frankfort. Multiple steps are taken to ensure nothing is missed in the investigation.”
According to Trooper Austin, the collision is still under investigation and no charges have been filed against Sydnor.
“At this point in our investigation and unless something comes up that we are unaware of, I don’t see charges being levied against the driver. Preliminary investigation has not revealed any reason for the operator to be charged at this time. However, this is still an open investigation,” Trooper Austin said. “We do an unbiased investigation to make sure all the steps are taken and we do a thorough investigation. … This is very tragic, extremely tragic.”
More Questions
Walking to the 115 Quick Stop was something MarQuana and Nadia had done before and several children and adults in their neighborhood do on a regular basis. The speed limit in that area is of concern to the Rogers.
“As hurtful as it is, we don’t’ want any one who lives over here to feel that pain. Our baby is not here and we have to live with that every single day,” Marcus Rogers said. “We want justice to happen. I want to see the police do what they need to do in this area to prevent people from being hit. She wasn’t the first and won’t be the last until they fix it. There’s no flashing light to tell people to slow down because of pedestrians. The speed limit goes from 35 to 45 mph and switches up. … We want something done.”
While the preliminary report says MarQuana and Nadia stepped into the road, the Rogers question that.
“From what I understand, they were coming back home. MarQuana was very wise about crossing the street,” Marcus Rogers said. “Even crossing the street at home, she’d stop, look both ways and go. She’d always stop and wait if there’s was anyone coming. She’d always hold their hand if she was with someone.”
Marcus Rogers said he was told the truck swerved to hit the girls, hit another car and the truck or the trailer it was towing hit the two girls. He was told the driver didn’t stop.
” I feel she didn’t give a (expletive). Like they were just two children of color. If you hit anyone or anything average people stop. They will pull up and stop. She kept going and left my baby there for dead!”
KSP does not release collision reports to the media, but only to parties involved.
Trooper Austin said, they did investigate the claim about the driver fleeing and found that the driver didn’t flee, but did continue to drive for a short distance and found a safe place to pull over and turn around. He said she didn’t have to be chased down.
Rogers said he wants justice served and charges filled against the driver for MarQuana’s death and Nadia’s injuries.
“It would be a relief if justice was being served. Me and her mom feel like no one cares. It causes more pain than anything,” he said. “If I ran over a child I’d be in jail right now. We just don’t know what to say. Someone needs to do something about this. … We are talking to lawyers.”
A Beautiful Soul
When talking about their daughter, the smiles can be heard in the parent’s voice followed by the horrific pain of losing her.
Marquana was sweet, friendly and loved people.
“She never met a stranger, she was always happy and always found a friend somewhere,” Marcus Rogers said. “She would go into the store and everyone would look at her and smile. She spoke to you no matter what color you were. It’s just tragic.”
MarQuana was going to kindergarten next school year at South Christian Elementary in Herndon, Ky., and she was very excited about it.
“She loved school!” Everything about it, except for writing her name, but she could spell, count, she knew her ABCs ,colors and shapes. She knew everything. She knew all of our full names and addresses. Not a lot of five year old know that,” he said. “To be so young and snuffed out of this world by someone’s careless negligence. She was so smart. ”
She had a big imagination and an even bigger smile.
“MarQuana loved unicorns and gummy worms,” her dad said. “She always wanted a unicorn puppy and she wanted one even though I told her it’s no such thing. She wanted one.”
Her father said she gave the best little hugs. She was the youngest of his seven children and her mom’s only child.
“On my worse days, I’d come see her and she’d cuddle in my lap and I’d feel better,” He said. “She’d lay on my chest and go straight to sleep.”
Remembering her in past tense is an emotion the parent’s can’t describe.
” Nadia, her aunt is doing good. She’s holding it together. That’s all we can really do. We can’t erase that day,” Rogers said. “Me and her mom are trying to keep it together and it’s not easy. It’s like pulling teeth with little Novocaine. You don’t hear her footsteps running through the house. She loved to run and ever sense she learned to walk she’d loved to run.”
MarQuana’s funeral will be held on Friday, June 12 at 1 p.m. at Gamble Funeral Home in Hopkinsville, Ky.
A family visitation will be held on Thursday, June 11, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Gamble Funeral Home.
Everyone will be wearing pink and white to honor MarQuana.
The family can only have 50 attendees at the funeral, but it will be streamed live on Gamble Funeral Homes’ Facebook page.
Despite their pain, the parents said MarQuana had the beautiful heart of a child who saw no hate, just love.
“The type of person MarQuana was she wouldn’t be mad at the lady who hit her,” Marcus Roger said. “She’d give her a hug and kiss and say it’d be ok. She’d forgive her. She didn’t like seeing anyone sad. If she was alive, MarQuana would still go and hug her. She had a beautiful soul.”