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Jun 29, 2023

Andover MA Deadly Crash

A child has died after they were hit by a tractor-trailer Tuesday in Andover,

A child has died after they were hit by a tractor-trailer Tuesday in Andover, Massachusetts.

The office of Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said Wednesday that the victim was a 5-year-old girl. Police had previously said the victim was 6 years old.

The girl's family identified her Thursday as 5-year-old Sidney Mae Olson and called for changes to the intersection where she was killed.

The child and a group of people were in the crosswalk near Elm Square at the intersection of Main Street and Elm Street when the crash took place around 5:15 p.m.

The child was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said. Several adults were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

"I just heard yelling and screaming," said Kyle Perry, who works at the Mobil gas station across the street.

He says he saw a woman overcome by emotion at the scene.

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"I saw a woman holding a child with a helmet on," said Perry.

Authorities haven't said how the crash unfolded, but a red scooter could be seen at the accident site.

"I think it's horrific," said Andrea Arena, who lives in the neighborhood. "Very sad. I can't imagine the family, the people involved in the accident."

People who live in the area say the intersection in the downtown area can be difficult to navigate and confusing for both pedestrians and drivers.

"This intersection has been very tricky, to say the least," said Gary Kazangia, who lives nearby. "It's very complicated to get through this intersection here."

The driver of the truck, who remained at the scene, works for the food distribution company Sysco.

"The Sysco family is heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of a pedestrian today in an incident involving one of our vehicles from Sysco Boston," the company said in a statement. "We offer our condolences and prayers to the individual's family and community and are grieving with them for their loss."

The driver stayed at the scene. Sysco says it is cooperating with law enforcement.

The Essex County District Attorney's Office has not said if any charges would be filed in the case.

The Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the Essex County District Attorney's Office and detectives from the Andover Police Department are investigating.