Investigation opened into Andover crash that killed 6-year-old
‘The Sysco family is heartbroken over the tragic death of a pedestrian yesterday.’
SYSCO SYSTEMS, in statement about fatal crash
Authorities are investigating the death of a 6-year-old girl who was hit by a large truck Tuesday while crossing a major intersection in Andover, Essex District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office said.
The child was struck by a Sysco Systems truck at the intersection of Main and Elm streets around 5:15 p.m., officials said. The girl was in a crosswalk on a scooter and with a woman and two other children at the time.
The truck, a 2015 Freightliner with a trailer attached, was stopped at a red light and hit the girl when it “started moving again,” according to David Procopio, a spokesperson for State Police. The driver remained at the scene, officials said.
The child was taken to Lawrence General Hospital where she later died, Procopio said.
“The investigation is ongoing to determine if charges are warranted,” Procopio said in an email. “We have interviewed multiple witnesses, documented the scene photographically, begun the crash reconstruction, and are inspecting the Freightliner tractor and the trailer.”
The name of the girl has not been released.
The truck company issued a statement Wednesday.
“The Sysco family is heartbroken over the tragic death of a pedestrian yesterday in an incident involving one of our vehicles from Sysco Boston. We offer our condolences and prayers to the individual’s family and community and are grieving with them for their loss,” the company said in a statement e-mailed to the Globe.
The statement also said the company was “cooperating fully with law enforcement and are conducting our own internal investigation to understand how this tragedy occurred.”
Tucker’s office, along with State and Andover police, are investigating the crash.
“Several people who also were in the crosswalk at the time were not struck but taken to a local hospital as a precautionary measure,” Andover police said in a statement.
One local business person called the crash “heartbreaking.”
Pat Greenhouse of the Globe Staff and correspondent Claire Law contributed to this report. John R. Ellement can be reached at john.ellement@globe.com. Kate Armanini can be reached at kate.armanini@globe.com.