Boy struck and killed ‘was taken far too early’
‘Shock, sadness and grief ’ after losing Duncan Xu, 11, on his way home from school
Just north of the intersection where 11-year-old Duncan Xu was struck and killed by a vehicle, a modest memorial was nestled on the grass, with bouquets of flowers surrounding a large bag of chips, a blue teddy bear and a bottle of Coca-Cola.
“R.I.P.” read a sign, framed with blue construction paper.
Xu, a student at Kennedy Public School in Scarborough, was on his way home from school at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when he was struck at Canongate Tr. and Purcell Sq., near Kennedy Rd. and Steeles Ave. E. A permanent memorial is in the works, school principal Frank Liu said. “We want to honour his memory and legacy, he was a kid who was taken far too early,” Liu said. “Duncan was an avid reader, his teacher’s last memory of him leaving school yesterday, he was laughing.”
Xu was rushed to hospital in critical condition, but later died from his injuries. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene after the incident. No charges have been laid.
There have been 10 pedestrian deaths in Toronto this year, with six in Scarborough, including two children.
The Canadian flag at the school, only a block from where Xu was struck, was at half-mast Wednesday.
The loss of a boy who Liu said was always smiling brought on a day of “shock, sadness and grief.” Social workers were at the school to provide support and counselling services to staff and students.
“This wonderful little 11-year-old boy, he’s not in here anymore, and won’t come back,” Liu said.
Mayor John Tory said he was “angry” about the incident.
“Whatever it is we’re doing, it’s still not enough, and we’ve got to determine other things we can do to improve the level of safety for pedestrians,” he said.
Tory said improving road safety starts with people driving cars and trucks.
“People should not categorize this in any way as anti-car or anti-truck, cars and trucks need to be a part of the city’s life, but people need to pay more attention to safety,” Tory said. “They are surrounded by one or two tons of steel.”
At the school, several measures are in place to make the area safe for students, all of whom walk to school or are dropped off by car.
There is a Kiss ‘N’ Ride monitored by teachers, a crossing guard at the end of the road and a sign notifying drivers that the school’s street allows only one-way traffic during drop-off and pick-up times.
The intersection where Xu was hit is a four-way stop, with three streets leading into residential areas. Going east, drivers hit busy Kennedy Rd.
Liu said that non-residents sometimes use Elmsfield Cres., where the school is, as a shortcut.
“I think we’re getting some through traffic, not necessarily residents, cutting through this neighbourhood to avoid a left-hand turn at Kennedy and Steeles during rush hours.” Kasia Briegmann- Samson, a spokesperson for Friends and Families for Safe Streets, an organization working to end traffic collisions, called on citizens to seriously reflect on road safety in Toronto.
“I think we need to examine our priorities,” Briegmann-Samson said. “We’ve put driving convenience above safety and human decency.” With files from Ben Spurr