The Sunshine Coast is mourning the loss of yet another promising youngster.
Twelve-year-old Brynn Proctor Suddes died of her injuries after she was struck by a pick-up truck on Highway 101 Tuesday afternoon.
Brynn and an 11-year-old friend had just got off the local transit bus at the bus stop in front of the Poplars Trailer Park in Gibsons.
According to Sunshine Coast RCMP Sgt. Gerry Webb, both girls walked around the front of the bus and Brynn ran across the highway towards the entrance of the trailer park.
"Brynn ran out into the northbound lane of Highway 101 and was struck by a white pick-up travelling northbound," Webb said. "The driver of the truck stopped immediately, pulled the vehicle over, and stayed at the scene."
Webb said paramedics arrived on the scene within minutes and transported Brynn to St. Mary's Hospital in Sechelt where she was pronounced dead.
The accident occurred just after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Const. Kris Josephson, who was on duty at the time, came across the accident shortly after it happened. An off-duty officer travelling in his private vehicle also drove by the accident at virtually the same time and assisted at the scene.
The posted speed of Highway 101 at that location is 80 km/h. Webb said initial investigation has revealed that the speed of the vehicle was "less than the posted speed." However, as part of the investigation, a mechanical inspection will be conducted on the truck, Webb added.
Tuesday's accident is the second fatal accident involving youngsters on the Coast in a little over five months.
Elphinstone Secondary School students Trina Borley and Hanna Anderson were killed in July when the vehicle they were travelling in lost control on Highway 101 just north of Sechelt and slid into the oncoming southbound lane into the path of a Dodge Ram pick-up truck.
As news of Tuesday's accident spread, School District No. 46 (SD46) officials were contacting parents, teachers and counsellors to open Gibsons Elementary School (GES) Wednesday morning.
Brynn was in Grade 7 at GES. All schools in SD46 were closed this week due to the Christmas holiday break, but superintendent of schools Stewart Hercus said GES would be open for the next few days for people to receive counselling.
"It's just a tragic, tragic circumstance," Hercus said Wednesday morning. "It's unbelievable to think that this is happening again. The worst thing that can happen to a parent is the death of a child. I didn't know the little girl, but from what I understand she was a very nice and quiet child."
Close family friend Shelly Charleston contacted Coast Reporter Wednesday morning. She said the family is finding it very difficult coming to grips with the loss.
"The school is putting together memory scrapbooks for the family. There is something like 60 kids in the Grade 7 graduating class. It's going to be a tough time for all of those little kids," Charleston said.
The family asks that no roadside memorials be left or flowers sent. A trust has been created at the Gibsons Credit Union where donations can be made in Brynn's name to create a future bursary. A private, family memorial service will be held.The site of the accident has been notorious for several high-profile accidents in the past.
Area resident Tony Richmond is fed up with all the accidents in the area and said something has to be done to improve safety conditions on the highway.
"We've got to do something. This area, all the way up to Woodgreen Park, is a steady fleet of ambulances and helicopters responding to accidents," Richmond said. "It's speed and no one will address the issues. The police, bless them, have a job to do, but someone on the political side has to take some action."
Richmond is planning a protest rally for Monday morning at 9 a.m. at the main entrance to the Poplars Trailer Park."We want to make a point - someone has to start listening," he said.
