Oak Grove boy, 11, dies at hospital

An autopsy is planned today in the death of an 11-year-old Oak Grove boy who died of a sudden illness.

Jordan Smith, a fifth-grader, died Sunday at Children’s Mercy Hospital after being sick last week.

The case has not yet been ruled an influenza death, though some reports have linked the case to the H1N1 virus. An autopsy will be conducted by the Jackson County medical examiner.

A classmate told KMBC-TV Jordan had a fever and he had missed several days of school.

“It’s very scary. My teacher, she was talking about it at the end of the day, about how scary it was, and so was the principal this morning,” student Marcus Cox told KMBC-TV’s Marcus Moore.

Counselors were called to Maple Elementary School on Monday to help students.

A visitation for Jordan will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at Royer Funeral Home in Grain Valley. A memorial service is at 2 p.m. at Royer. See obituary Page A5.