Boy, 11, killed in collision with school bus in Rockland
Flowers, balloons and stuffed animals outside a school at the corner of St-Joseph and Chéné streets in Rockland May 14, 2024. A child was struck and killed around that intersection the day before. (Joseph Tunney/CBC)
An 11-year-old boy was killed in a collision with a school bus while on his bicycle in Rockland, east of Ottawa.
The collision happened on St-Joseph Street near Chéné Street around 3:30 p.m. Monday, according to Ontario Provincial Police.
The child suffered "traumatic injuries" and was rushed by ground ambulance to CHEO, Ottawa's children's hospital, according to the United Counties of Prescott and Russell Emergency Services Department.
Police confirmed Tuesday morning the boy had died and their investigation continues.
His name has not been released, but the French public school board Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO) said he was a student at école élémentaire et secondaire publique Carrefour Jeunesse.
The school bus driver wasn't hurt, police said.
"It's very sad news, it hit the community very badly," said Maria Aboulhosn. Her children go to école élémentaire catholique Sainte-Trinité, near where the collision occurred.
Aboulhosn was there on Monday and said her "heart started pounding" as she watched first responders. She described lots of children walking around, saying everyone was "in shock."
Clarence-Rockland Mayor Mario Zanth said that his team is setting up books of condolence and donation boxes for the child's family at city hall.
"A child who loses his life in this kind of a tragedy, he's everyone's child today," said Zanth.
"We want to make sure parents know we're thinking about them right now and that our hearts are broken as well. We will be there to assist them in any way that we can."
CEPEO sent an email in French notifying parents and guardians of the death, saying support would be offered in the coming days.
Zanth said everyone could also call the city's 211 helpline for support.
There are several schools in this part of the City of Clarence-Rockland, which is about 35 kilometres northeast of downtown Ottawa.
