3-year-old boy killed, mother and sister injured after being hit by pickup truck in Allard: police

Police say a three-year-old boy was killed, and his sister and mother were injured, after being struck by a pickup truck in southwest Edmonton Thursday evening.

The Edmonton Police Service says the family was crossing Allard Road SW, using a marked crosswalk, when they were hit by a truck that was turning left. It happened shortly after 5 p.m.

Edmonton police say the Ford F-150 truck, being driven by a 30-year-old man, was going north on Allard Road SW when it “stopped quickly” at a three-way stop at Allard Boulevard SW before making the left, hitting the family.

The boy died on scene. The 39-year-old mother and seven-year-old girl were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to EPS.

Police say the driver of the F-150 remained on scene and was not injured.

Investigators with the EPS Major Collision Investigations Section (MCIS) do not believe speed or alcohol were factors in the fatal collision.

A community in mourning

A memorial for the young victim began going up Friday, with flowers, a candle and a children’s bible being placed on the sidewalk near the intersection.

Pamela Little and her young children were among those who left flowers. The family walks in the area nearly every day.

“I have a little five year old boy, and then I have an eight- and seven-year-old,” Little told CityNews. “And it’s just devastating because we walk to Timmie’s almost every day or go get Slurpees, so it could happen to any one of us.”

Little wants to the family of the young boy to know they’re supported by the neighbourhood.

“We just brought a little kid’s bible and some flowers, just to support them, I don’t know, any kind of way to support the mom and the family.”

Edmonton’s police chief, Dale McFee, offered his condolences to the family.

Edmonton has had multiple traffic fatalities and accidents this year involving pedestrians. Chief McFee says he’s looking to step up enforcement on speed and dangerous driving, pushing for legislation that would allow officers to immediately seize vehicles caught going 50 kms above the speed limit.

But he added sometimes it ultimately comes down to drivers not paying attention — a challenge to enforce.

“Every time you see something like this, it should be a notice to all of us… Speed is different thing, enforcement, distracted driving, not paying attention is another thing.”

–With files from Darcy Ropchan