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Early evening on the balcony, the air is still, comfortable. It's quiet but for the hum of traffic below.
The relative calm is broken by sudden screams.
"Hey! Heeeeyyyyy!" they shout.
*A hollow thud*
My attention is called to the intersection. A child lay on the road.
The relative calm is broken by sudden screams.
"Hey! Heeeeyyyyy!" they shout.
*A hollow thud*
My attention is called to the intersection. A child lay on the road.
A car in mid-turn from the intersecting avenue is stopped, its nose piercing the crosswalk.
A woman wails an eerie cry at the sight of the child on the asphalt. A man attends to and assesses the child.
A woman wails an eerie cry at the sight of the child on the asphalt. A man attends to and assesses the child.
The woman turns her rage onto the driver and his car. She slaps the hood, comes around to the drivers door and kicks it repeatedly. Screaming. She spins in circles and comes back at the car.
The driver opens the door, stands partially outside the vehicle. He throws up his arms.
The driver opens the door, stands partially outside the vehicle. He throws up his arms.
“It wasn’t my fault! It’s not my fault,” he exclaims.
The man checking on the child helps her onto her feet. Vehicles wait for the lanes to clear. He supports the child to the sidewalk; her plastic three-wheeled scooter lays on the road In a haunting way.
The man checking on the child helps her onto her feet. Vehicles wait for the lanes to clear. He supports the child to the sidewalk; her plastic three-wheeled scooter lays on the road In a haunting way.
The driver returns to the inside of his vehicle. He waits.
Traffic manoeuvres around the scooter and the car, which partially obstructs the lane and crosswalk still.
Traffic manoeuvres around the scooter and the car, which partially obstructs the lane and crosswalk still.
The woman holds out her hands, pleading with other drivers to stop so she can retrieve the scooter from the middle of the road. They yield, and she collects the toy.
She rejoins the man and the child. The two adults assess the child, talking with her and feeling around her torso.
The child is calm.
The child is calm.
Sirens are heard. A CPS vehicle arrives first, then a fire truck, then an EMS SUV, and finally an ambulance.
Every first responder approaching the child takes a knee. They leave generous space. The girl responds to the first responders but from behind the man.
Every first responder approaching the child takes a knee. They leave generous space. The girl responds to the first responders but from behind the man.
The police officers distribute forms for statements, and they collect documents and a statement from the driver.
The driver stays in his vehicle.
The driver stays in his vehicle.
The man looks down at the girl. He extends her a lifted hand, and she respond with a light five. He rubs her back. The woman completes the form.
They exchange words with a police officer before walking away from the scene. The girl strides on her scooter alongside the man and woman.
My heart lifts from despair.
The driver continues to sit in his vehicle while the police are in theirs. Other first responders leave the scene.
The driver continues to sit in his vehicle while the police are in theirs. Other first responders leave the scene.
The man, in his car, gazes until the police return. They hand over documents and papers. Information is transferred verbally, and then the police depart from the car and the scene.
The driver sits in his car, scrummaging around in his glovebox for an extended time. With four-way lights flashing, other cars continue to manoeuvre around him while he sits in his thoughts —
Alone.
Alone.
The city reported on this incident in this way only: https://twitter.com/yyctransport/status/1281763005550616577?s=20
I was troubled by it. Too objective in tone. Too partial to the possible disruption of traffic flow.
The horror that unfolded needs to be talked about, processed, and inspire different conversations on how we move around in this city and how we prioritize one mode over others.
The horror that unfolded needs to be talked about, processed, and inspire different conversations on how we move around in this city and how we prioritize one mode over others.
