New Jersey Theft Suspect Flips Car, Killing 2-Year-Old Son, Then Runs: Police

TULLYTOWN, PA — A New Jersey man who was fleeing the scene of a theft flipped his car and paused to look at his injured 2-year-old son — whom he failed to secure in a car seat and who was later pronounced dead — before running away from the crash, police said.

Christopher Kuhn, 27, of Hamilton, New Jersey is behind bars at Bucks County Prison on charges of third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle and related charges following the death of his toddler son in Tullytown shortly after noon Tuesday.

Court records show Kuhn was arraigned late Tuesday and bail was set at $5 million.

Authorities say Kuhn had been holding a small child when he left Walmart on Levittown Parkway after security personnel tried to detain him for not paying for $228 worth of merchandise.

As he fled the scene driving a Jeep SUV, Kuhn ran a red light on Route 13, hit another vehicle and rolled over. The young boy was ejected from the Jeep and Kuhn fled the scene, according to authorities with the Bucks County District Attorney's office.

Kuhn ran away after the crash, "pausing to look at his injured son on the roadway" before fleeing, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Officers ran after him, catching and arresting him, while others tended to the toddler, the affidavit said.

The boy was taken to Lower Bucks Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect’s Jeep was not being chased by police vehicles at the time of the crash, authorities said.

Witnesses told police the child had climbed into the rear driver’s side of the Jeep and was not secured in a child safety seat at the time of the crash. Police later found a child safety seat in the rear seat of the Jeep.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 10.

PHOTO: Bucks County District Attorney