A man is in custody after an┬аeight-year-old girl died following a hit and run outside┬аCentral Public School in Burlington, Ont., police said.
According to Halton regional police, the┬аgirl had just gotten out of┬аher parent’s car around 5: 30 p.m. Wednesday┬аand was crossing a driveway to enter┬аthe school’s┬аeast entrance┬аwhen a white SUV struck her as it was exiting the parking lot.
“The SUV exited the lot without stopping, and turned westbound on Baldwin Street,” said┬аa police news release.
The girl┬аdied in McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton after she was taken there by ambulance.
Police said they located and took into custody a 21-year-old resident of the area, but said the investigation is ongoing.
‘This family is irreparably changed’
Colette Ruddock, superintendent of education with the Halton District School Board, told CBC News the board is “deeply devastated.”
“This is an absolute tragedy. The school, the community is heartbroken,” she said.
Ruddock┬аsaid the board’s┬аtragic events response team was on site Thursday morning, as well as support for staff,┬аwho are “devastated.”
Karina Gould, MP for Burlington, said┬аher heart goes out to the family.┬а
“This family is irreparably changed and a little girl is gone because someone decided to drive [recklessly]. This is unacceptable,” she said in a message on Twitter.
