Careless driving charge laid in crash that killed 6-year-old Sudbury girl

Police in Greater Sudbury have laid charges in the fatal May crash that killed a 6-year-old girl after exiting her school bus.

Police in Greater Sudbury announced Friday that a 58-year-old woman has been charged in connection with a crash that killed a six-year-old girl last month.

The charges mark the latest development in an investigation that began the afternoon of May 19, when officers responded to a serious pedestrian collision just after 3:30 p.m. in the area of Second Avenue at the Palace Place Co-Op in the Minnow Lake neighbourhood.

Police said emergency personnel performed CPR and other life-saving measures at the scene and the girl was transported to Health Sciences North with life-threatening injuries. She was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Child had exited school bus safely

Police have confirmed the incident did not occur on the roadway. Investigators said the child had safely exited a school bus prior to the collision, which took place on private property within a residential parking area.

“They exited the school bus safely,” Sgt. Blair Ramsay of the Greater Sudbury Police Service previously told CTV News.

“It was 30 or 40 metres away on private property when the collision occurred.”

Police said in May that the driver involved remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators.

Charges laid

As a result of the investigation, a 58-year-old local woman has been charged with careless driving causing death and driving a vehicle with cannabis readily available.

“Her name cannot be released at this time as the information has not yet been sworn to through the court process,” police said in a news release Friday.

Police also did not release the name of the deceased child. However, the girl was later identified as Havyn Winter Kay when an online fundraiser was set up for her family.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the child’s family, friends, loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic loss,” police said in their initial release.

The accused is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 4 to answer the charges.