Driver received’t face felony prices in crash that claimed lifetime of 5-year-old Andover lady

The motive force of the tractor trailer that struck and killed a 5-year-old Andover lady in Could is not going to face felony prices, the Essex County District Legal professional’s workplace introduced Friday. 

On Could 9, 5-year-old Sidney Mae Olson was driving her scooter to an artwork class when she and one other member of the family entered the crosswalk on the intersection of Elm Avenue and Route 28. She was hit by a tractor trailer that had stopped on the interplay when it started to maneuver ahead as the sunshine turned inexperienced, officers mentioned.

In a Friday assertion, the DA’s workplace mentioned the “thorough and detailed” investigation into the crash included reviewing crash reconstruction, video from contained in the truck, evaluating the visitors and pedestrian alerts within the intersection, a visibility research, and interviewing witnesses.

“The investigative findings don’t present enough proof to hunt felony prices towards the motive force of the tractor trailer,” the DA’s workplace mentioned. “The motive force was stopped on the intersection. As he started to advance ahead on the sunshine turning inexperienced, he was unable to see Ms. Olson touring on her scooter within the crosswalk beneath. The motive force was not impaired by any substances and instantly got here to a managed cease after the collision.”

In a press release launched by the DA’s workplace, the 5-year-old’s dad and mom, Eric Olson and Mary Beth Ellis, mentioned they had been “relieved to succeed in closure within the felony investigation.”

“When Sidney died, it left an immeasurable gap in our lives,” they mentioned. “We miss her giggly giggle, dimpled smile, and type coronary heart. We all know this crash devastated everybody concerned, and we’re grateful for the powerful work performed by the Andover Police Division, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Essex County District Legal professional.

“At the moment’s determination doesn’t change the horrible fact: The crash that killed Sidney, like 42,000 U.S. visitors deaths final 12 months, was preventable,” they added.

Olson and Ellis mentioned their charity, the Sidney Mae Olson Rainbow Fund, is asking for “Protected Streets for Individuals” on Nov. 19 — World Day of Remembrance for Street Visitors Victims — and holding “Sidney’s Rainbow Run” in Andover on Thanksgiving Day in commemoration.

“Small modifications make an enormous distinction,” they mentioned. “Easy security options, like cross-view mirrors that are actually required on state-owned vehicles in Massachusetts because of the susceptible highway customers regulation, might have saved Sidney’s life. The options to those issues exist. We simply have to implement them.”

The lady’s dad and mom referred to as companies, native officers, and the state Legislature to all take steps to make the roads safer. 

Learn their full assertion beneath: 

We’re relieved to succeed in closure within the felony investigation. When Sidney died, it left an immeasurable gap in our lives. We miss her giggly giggle, dimpled smile, and type coronary heart. We all know this crash devastated everybody concerned, and we’re grateful for the powerful work performed by the Andover Police Division, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Essex County District Legal professional.

At the moment’s determination doesn’t change the horrible fact: The crash that killed Sidney, like 42,000 U.S. visitors deaths final 12 months, was preventable.

We’re lucky to dwell in Andover the place public officers care, and we’re grateful for his or her collaboration on security enhancements to Elm Sq., the intersection the place Sidney was killed, and diminished speeds all through city. Sadly, that’s not frequent, despite the truth that these are identified options for stopping deaths and critical accidents.

That’s why on Sunday November 19^th, our charity, the Sidney Mae Olson Rainbow Fund, is asking for “Protected Streets for Individuals” on the World Day of Remembrance for Street Visitors Victims. We’ll commemorate the day with “Sidney’s Rainbow Run” in Andover on Thanksgiving Day.

Small modifications make an enormous distinction. Easy security options, like cross-view mirrors that are actually required on state-owned vehicles in Massachusetts because of the susceptible highway customers regulation, might have saved Sidney’s life.

The options to those issues exist. We simply have to implement them.

Billions in funding for enhancements is out there via state and federal applications. In the event you’re a resident, share your tales with native officers. It makes a distinction. 

Enterprise homeowners, please acknowledge that many Massachusetts cities and cities are literally thickly settled neighborhoods, not constructed for giant vehicles. Overview when and the way deliveries occur — and replace your vehicles with the protection guards, cross-over mirrors, and backup cameras now required on state-owned vehicles and confirmed to assist drivers spot folks like Sidney.

Legislature, clear the best way for automated enforcement, a confirmed approach to cut back deaths and critical accidents utilized by 26 different states, by passing Home Invoice 3393.

In life, Sidney needed nothing greater than to carry folks collectively. In her loss of life, we hope we are able to all work collectively to implement the confirmed options able to addressing this public well being disaster, making our roads protected and our neighborhoods extra livable for all.