Halton Regional Police say an eight-year-old girl died after she was hit by a vehicle while getting out of a car as she arrived at a Burlington school for an event.
Police said at around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, several people with their children attended Central Public School for a school theatre event.
One parent had stopped in the driveway to let their eight-year-old child out of the car to get into the school, investigators said. The shared driveway connects Central Public School with Burlington Central Secondary School.
As she crossed the driveway towards the east-side entrance doors, police said she was struck by a white SUV that was exiting the lot.
The driver of the SUV did not stop and kept driving, police said.
The young girl was rushed to McMaster Children’s hospital but later died from her injuries.
Global News has spoken to family members who have identified the young girl as Jayne Hounslow.
Halton Police told Global News a witness was able to get the licence plate of the driver who was arrested at a home just around the corner from the school.
A 21-year-old male driver was charged with failing to stop resulting in death.
Const. Ryan Anderson, media relations for Halton Regional Police, called the incident a “massive tragedy.”
“Whole families are impacted, the community is impacted by this, and our officers as well,” Anderson said. “It’s not hard to empathize with the family and put themselves in their position. It’s just horrible.”
One mother who’s daughter attends the school said she was also at the event Wednesday night and knew something was wrong when they heard ambulance sirens.
“My husband drops my daughter off here all the time,” said Tracey Heine pointing towards the driveway where the young girl was struck.
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“It’s been hard to try and explain to my children and not get upset,” Heine fighting back tears. “My daughter, who is too cool to hold my hand now, this morning she held my hand .. We have to hold our kids closer because it could happen to anyone.”
Another parent said he was also at the school event Wednesday night with his child who is also eight years old.
“It was an eight year old girl, and that’s our daughter’s age,” Jeremy Sission said. “The flowers and stuff around the tree there, that hits hard.”
A superintendent of education for the school board, Colette Ruddock, spoke to reporters Thursday morning and said she was “deeply devastated.”
“We are all devastated by what has happened at this school and to the school community,” Ruddock said. “We’re heartbroken.”
Ruddock said a team of professionals such as social workers and child and youth counsellors would be at the school to offer support for both students and staff.
Burlington’s Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said she is “absolutely heartbroken and devastated.”
“On behalf of my Council colleagues and the City of Burlington, we are sending our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family, loved ones and everyone impacted by this tragedy,” she wrote in a tweet.
Meed Ward said the community is “in mourning.”
“We stand together and our thoughts are with the family, the community, the school board, and the first responders who answered the call last night,” the tweet read.
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