Todd Heap, a former stand-out tight end who played 12 seasons in the NFL, is now living through the worst possible nightmare for any parent:
The death of his own child. And it gets worse.
The Mesa Police Department in Arizona has confirmed that Heap accidentally struck and killed his three-year-old daughter with his truck on Friday.
We can’t imagine what his family must be going through.
According to police records, Heap said the child was in her driveway when he went to move a truck and hit her just before 4 p.m. local time.
Officials confirmed the tragic event, saying that the 37-year-old was moving his truck forward in his driveway and didn’t see his daughter.
He simply didn’t realize the girl was in the vehicle’s path.
Authorities told an ABC affiliate that there were no signs of impairment or suspicious circumstances behind the incident.
While an investigation is ongoing, that is a formality, and police say Heap was not impaired in any way at the time this occurred.
It sounds like it was just an awful, awful accident.
The Mesa Police Department told Fox 10 Phoenix that Heap’s daughter was taken to a local hospital, where she later passed away.
Prior to being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, Heap attended Mountain View High School in Mesa, where the accident occurred.
He then went on to play at Arizona State University.
Heap spent 10 seasons with the Ravens and then joined his hometown Arizona Cardinals in 2011 and 2012 before injury forced his retirement.
Todd retired during his second season with Arizona.
Heap’s daughter was the youngest of his five children with wife Ashley. He has a daughter Brooklyn and sons Preston, Kyle and Cade.
The ex-All Pro has yet to comment on the situation.
In 2014, Heap was inducted in the Baltimore Ring of Honor, the highest distinction the Ravens franchise can give to a player.
He finished his career with 499 receptions, 5,869 yards and 24 touchdowns. Heap was named to the Pro Bowl roster twice.
A pillar of the community, he had a pediatric center in Baltimore named after him in 2010. He pledged $1 million to the facility in 2007.
His charitable foundation has raised funds for sick and disadvantaged children, earning him the respect of his peers on and off the field.
Above is a look at what many of them have said.
We join everyone who has reached out to Heap and his family to offer their thoughts and condolences at this impossible time.
Our hearts go out to him and his loved ones, and we can only hope that in the face of this adversity, they will grow stronger.
May his beloved toddler rest in peace.
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