Condolences have been pouring in for Todd Heap and his family, after the retired NFL player accidentally killed his three-year-old daughter last week. Todd was behind the wheel of his truck at home in Mesa, Arizona when he reportedly struck his daughter who was standing in the driveway. The little girl was rushed to hospital where she later died. The Mesa Police Department confirmed to ABC15 Arizona that Todd was driving at around 4pm local time when the accident happened. Authorities told ABC15 that there were no signs of impairment or suspicious circumstances behind the incident. Todd's daughter was the youngest of his five children with wife Ashley.
Todd played 12 seasons in the NFL, the majority of his career with the Baltimore Ravens followed by the Arizona Cardinals. Shortly after the news broke, the Baltimore Ravens released a statement on Twitter, writing: "We cannot imagine the heartbreak and sorrow Todd and Ashley's family feels right now. This is knee-buckling news and an overwhelmingly sad tragedy. Our prayers, our thoughts and our hearts are with the Heaps, who have contributed so much to the Ravens and Baltimore community. We believe their deep faith and tremendous support from friends and family will help them through this unimaginable time."
Todd Heap accidentally killed his three-year-old daughter
Former Ravens player O.J. Brigance also tweeted, "So heartbroken for the Heap family. I pray for God's comfort during this excruciating loss of life," while Jonathan Ogden told The Washington Post: "I can't imagine the pain he is going through right now. He has got to carry this the rest of his life, and he is going to think about it quite often. Man, there are no words. There is nothing I can say to tell you how I feel right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. He has to keep the faith, got to keep moving and somehow get on with his life. This is just terrible and I just wish there was something I could do. I'm at a loss for words. I feel for him."
Jay Feely, who played with Todd on the Arizona Cardinals, wrote on Twitter: "My heart is broken for Todd Heap and his family. One of the kindest persons I've ever met and a man who lives for his family."
Todd has previously spoken about how his family means everything to him. "I just got done jumping on the trampoline with my two-year-old daughter," Todd told Kevin Byrne in 2015. "And it's hard to get a bigger smile than that. I took all three of my boys golfing this morning. That was a lot of fun. (My wife) Ashley makes me smile every day. Family and all of the events we do, that regularly makes me smile."