‘The boy was on the ground; It didn’t look good’ — Child in critical condition after being hit by truck on Hamilton Mountain

An 11-year-old boy is in critical condition after being struck by a pickup truck on the Hamilton Mountain.

Hamilton police say the collision occurred at the intersection of Upper Gage Avenue and Royalvista Drive just shortly after 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

Const. Krista-Lee Ernst told reporters at the scene the boy was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the pickup has been arrested and charged with dangerous driving.

As a mother, I can only imagine what the family is going through and my heart goes out to them," said Ernst.

Supt. Dave Thompson of the Hamilton Paramedic Service told The Spectator that paramedics performed CPR on the boy while en route to hospital.

Police said the child was walking westbound on Royalvista and a black pickup truck was travelling southbound on Upper Gage at the time of the collision.

Ernst would not confirm where exactly on the road the child was struck.

Varinder Virdi and his colleague - both workers at the nearby Bay Gardens Funeral Home - were driving with a deceased body in their car when he says a black truck cut them off on Upper Gage about 400 metres from the collision.

Virdi was in the left lane and had just passed the Stone Church Road East intersection, where Upper Gage transitions from two lanes to one. He alleged the pickup driver, in the soon-ending right lane, came over the speed limit" and jetted in front him.

He was going fast," Virdi said. Fast for this area."

Seconds later, Virdi said he saw the quickly moving truck come to a sudden halt off of Royalvista. Then he saw a school crossing guard flailing their arms, and then the boy on the ground in the middle of the crosswalk.

The cross guard was screaming, like something wrong had happened," said Virdi, adding he called 911 from the scene. The boy was on the ground; It didn't look good."

Virdi said the driver of the truck was a young man. He could not see whether there were any passengers.

I'm shocked, still shivering," said Virdi as snow billowed around his head.

In an email to The Spectator, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board spokesperson Shawn McKillop said the board was aware of the collision, which happened just a block away from Templemead Elementary School.

This is an extremely serious situation and we have learned that our students were in the vicinity of the accident," said McKillop.

When asked by reporters, Ernst could not provide comment on whether or not the boy was a student at the school.

We will provide support to students and staff as this is a significant and distressing situation," said McKillop. We are waiting to hear more information and preparing for appropriate supports to respond at the school."

Police closed Upper Gage Avenue between Royalvista Drive and Farah Court for their investigation.

A black pickup truck remained parked on Upper Gage near police cruisers. Its tailgate was left open.

A crossing guard could be seen near the site of the collision wailing and in distress. She was tended to by police officers.

Anyone with information regarding the incident or who may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact police at 905-546-4755.

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com

Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com