Calgary woman charged 4 months after young girl killed by truck

A 38-year-old woman has been charged after a four-year-old girl was killed by a truck in Calgary’s Bowness neighbourhood in May.

Avayah Toulon was struck as she was crossing 47 Avenue N.W. at about 8 p.m. on May 6.

“Witnesses had stated that the female driver of the Ford F150 had initially stopped and then slowly proceeded through the intersection at the same time that the child ran across 47 Street into the path of the vehicle,” police said in a statement Wednesday. “The child was struck by the Ford, resulting in fatal head injuries.”

READ MORE: Memorial site growing for little girl killed by vehicle in Bowness

Tanis Lambert, 38, has been charged with careless driving and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Police said neither alcohol nor speed were factors in the collision.

Avayah’s mother, Sam Toulon, told Global News in a previous interview she was walking home from the Bow River with her husband and six children at the time.

Watch below (May 9): A Calgary couple is mourning the death of their young daughter, who was struck by a pickup truck while crossing a road in Bowness. The grieving family is making a plea for drivers to watch for children on the roads.

1:29 ‘I looked to make sure it was safe’: Calgary mom of 4-year-old killed by truck replays tragedy

“We had my son’s dog with us,” said Toulon. “I walked on ahead, my husband had the dog behind us, the children were walking in front of me. When they got to the intersection they stopped.

“They know the rules; they walk to school every day, they bike to school every day.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They know the rules; they walk to school every day, they bike to school every day."

Toulon said her children asked if it was safe to cross.

“I looked to make sure it was safe, and I said yes,” Toulon said.

READ MORE: ‘I looked to make sure it was safe’ – Calgary mom of 4-year-old killed by truck replays tragedy

Police said the driver of a pickup truck stopped to let the family cross, but then proceeded when Avayah tried to get across the road to reach her siblings.

“I screamed ‘stop!’ and she was on the driver’s side, so she was halfway across the road. And my son said, ‘Avi, run’ and the guy hits her and then he went…and the back wheels went over her as well,” recalled Toulon through tears.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I screamed 'stop!' and she was on the driver's side, so she was halfway across the road. And my son said, 'Avi, run' and the guy hits her and then he went…and the back wheels went over her as well," recalled Toulon through tears.

Lambert is set to appear in court Nov. 2.

With files from Carolyn Kury de Castillo