Kansas City, Mo. ? A newspaper carrier for The Kansas City Star was found dead Wednesday in his delivery van in east Kansas City, police said.

Robert R. Hack, 32, of Kansas City, was found slumped over the front seats of the van about 4:15 a.m. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Police said Hack had been shot at least one time and his van had crashed into a light pole.

Police said it was too early to speculate on a motive in the case.

“All of us at The Kansas City Star are deeply saddened by the death of our newspaper carrier,” said Arthur S. Brisbane, publisher and president of The Star. “Mr. Hack will be remembered here as a soft-spoken person and a good business partner to The Star. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.”

Hack was one of 310 independent contractors who deliver newspapers for The Star in the metropolitan area, said Ken Batrick, metro circulation manager for the newspaper. Hack had been a carrier on that route since October 2002.

Batrick, who has been with The Star since 1981, said he could not remember a newspaper carrier ever being killed while delivering papers.