PENTICTON — A community celebration is planned to commemorate the life of James Christian McIntosh, the five-year-old boy who was killed when run over by a pickup truck at Green Mountain Road and Highway 97 in Penticton last week.
This Sunday, LocoLanding Adventure Park will open for its last day of the season with a celebration for James and the McIntosh family. Organizers say all of proceeds from admission will go directly to the family.
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“When something as tragic as the loss of a child happens, I truly believe everyone in Penticton would give whatever they could for this family,” says LocoLanding owner Diana Stirling. “We are just fortunate to be able to provide LocoLanding as a venue for fundraising.”
Gates will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stirling says everyone is welcome to attend and support the family.
“Our staff (all teenagers) are also donating their time, which absolutely warms my heart,” says Stirling.
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Police say McIntosh, his brother and father were crossing the street in a crosswalk when the accident happened. Flowers and teddy bears lay at the scene of the crash.
James who was just starting first grade at Holy Cross School in Penticton
“James had an incredible energy and loved being outside, playing, laughing. He was joyful,” says Shawn Campbell, Principal of Holy Cross School.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the McIntosh family.
“We have had an outpouring of support from the community and questions on how people can help the family during this time,” says Campbell. “I can’t think of a better way of helping them and honouring James at the same time.”
The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) has taken over the case, as an off-duty RCMP officer, in his personal vehicle, was behind the wheel of the pick-up truck.
~ With files from Blaine Gaffney
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