Waterloo students help save 12-year-old cyclist in pickup truck collision

CTV’s Alexandra Holyk talks to two students who jumped in to help a young cyclist after they were hit by a truck.

A pair of Waterloo students are being praised for their heroic efforts after they helped save a young cyclist on Tuesday.

The cyclist, a 12-year-old girl, was seriously injured in a crash involving a pickup truck around 8:40 a.m., near University Avenue East and Woolwich Street.

Prajjval Rao and Eva Ha said they were on their way to class in separate vehicles when they witnessed the crash.

“All of a sudden we hear a big noise and we were kind of shocked,” Rao recalled. “We were just taking a look around, like what’s going on? And then we see that there was a girl lying down in front of a truck.”

Ha said she got out of her car and called 911. Rao rushed to the girl’s side.

“I see (Prajjval) on his knees, on the ground, taking care of the girl,” said Ha.

“Asking her how she is doing, if she is OK, which part of her leg is hurting,” Rao said.

Rao and Ha are studying to become personal support workers through a program with St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres. They began taking classes two months ago.

“We get to learn a lot about the way we should behave when we see situations like this,” Rao said.

“That gave us not just the knowledge, but also the confidence that we can do as best as we can do in the given situation,” Ha said. “Whatever it is, whatever it takes.”

The pair’s efforts are being praised by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB).

“It really was a testament to the community that’s built and also just the caliber of the young people in our schools,” said WCDSB spokesperson Lema Salaymeh. “We have so much pride in them.”

Salaymeh also confirmed the 12-year-old cyclist is a student within the school board. The girl was taken to hospital following the crash but was released Wednesday night to recover at home.

Ha and Rao said they’re happy to hear the young girl is recovering and they’re grateful they could apply what they learned in the classroom to real life.

“It feels like everything that we did paid off,” said Rao.