Family of southern Alberta boy killed on bike forgives driver

A spokesperson for the family of a six-year-old Alberta boy killed while riding his bike over the weekend, says the family has met with the driver who hit their son and that they are on the road to forgiveness.

“It’s really powerful to see that they are doing that so early on,” Klass Hoekstra, the principal of Taber Christian School, said of Daniel Wolfe’s family at their home on Wednesday. “They met with the family and the driver. They sat and had supper together – a powerful story.”

Wolfe’s friends and family gathered at the Barnwell, Alta. home to spend time with the family Wednesday.

“I sat down with the siblings and we remembered who he was,” Hoekstra said.

RCMP said Wolfe was riding his bike on Range Road 174 and South Village Road when he was hit by a vehicle around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. He was airlifted to a Calgary hospital by STARS Air Ambulance but did not survive.

READ MORE: Boy on bike struck and killed by vehicle near Taber

Wolfe attended the Taber Christian School with his two siblings and the Hoekstra said he has spoken several times to the family during this difficult time.

He said Wolfe comes from a large Mennonite family with a strong Christian faith.

“Knowing that Danny is in heaven, we take comfort in that,” Hoekstra said. “At the same time, we lean on each other with community support and school support.”

Police said incidents like the crash in which Daniel was killed are rare, but when they do happen,  it’s a wake-up call for rural bike safety.

“With young children who are just learning how to ride, they may not be 100 per cent comfortable or steady on a bike and when you allow them to ride in areas of traffic, the risk increases of collisions happening, ” Cst. Melanie Schefter, with Taber RCMP, said.

The RCMP said their investigation continues but that no charges are pending.

Wolfe will be laid to rest at the family’s church on Thursday.