A 16-year-old Puslinch Township boy is dead after being struck by a minivan in Centre Wellington early Saturday morning. Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Wellington County Paramedic Services responded to a collision on Wellington Road 29, south of the Eramosa-Garafraxa Town Line, shortly after midnight. Police said the pedestrian was struck by a northbound minivan. The teen was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the minivan remained at the scene and was not injured. Const. Craig Soldan said there had been a gathering near the collision site, with some people moving near or onto the roadway. “I don’t want to say party because I don’t know exactly what the gathering was for or how many people were in attendance,” Soldan said. He said investigators are still trying to determine why the teen was on the roadway when the minivan passed through the area. “I don’t believe that this individual was walking from point A to point B,” Soldan said. “I think they were in the area with the group and, for some reason, on the roadway.” Soldan said the collision occurred in a rural area that would have been dark and not well lit. He said weather conditions were clear and there was no rain or fog. He said there was no indication in the initial report that the driver was impaired or travelling at excessive speed. “There are no concerns there for the driver,” Soldan said, adding that investigators are continuing to examine why the teen was on the roadway and who was with him at the time. The road was closed for a period of time while investigators examined the scene and has since reopened. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has information that could assist investigators to contact Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Soldan said police are also asking people to respect the privacy of the teen’s family and friends. “Our thoughts, as a police agency, go to the family affected by this tragedy and the friends and those that were at the scene and witnessed this event,” he said. The investigation remains ongoing.
