Overbrook community mourns 5-year-old boy killed by dump truck

Family and friends are mourning the loss of a young boy who died after being hit by a dump truck in Overbrook. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports.

Five-year-old Jaxson Mansfield-O’Brey died in hospital after being hit by a dump truck in the Overbrook area Wednesday afternoon.

The crash happened at around 3:40 p.m. on Presland Road, east of Lola Street. Kathleen Sauder, who lives in the area, says she was one of the first people to arrive at scene.

“I see a little boy face down and his bike underneath a front wheel of a dump truck,” said Sauder.

Sauder says she heard a noise at the time of the crash and rushed outside to offer help.

“I literally walk out, and I looked around and there’s nobody here. I ran over to the little boy, and I was calling 911,” she said.

In a statement Wednesday evening, Ottawa police said life-saving measures were performed on scene by first-responders, but Mansfield-O’Brey was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

“After I did the report the police officer asked if I wanted a hug and I did so he gave me a hug and I said I have to go and give my kids a hug so that’s what I did,” said Sauder.

“They were like Mom are you okay? And I’m like no.”

A memorial is growing near the site of the incident with flowers, candy, and a card placed on the ground, and neighbours in the area say they will hold a candlelight vigil Friday night in remembrance of Mansfield-O’Brey.

“He was a very loving kid, very outgoing, playful, and everyone knew him in the community,” said Denise Gelineau, who lives in the area. “He is going to be really well missed.”

Gelineau says her young kids were friends with Jaxson, and the family happened upon the collision scene that afternoon.

“They came to our house two weeks ago and they were playing in the house in the yard,” she said.

“I was actually walking back from school picking up the girls and that’s when we saw the incident and we saw the truck and then the bike and his two shoes underneath the truck.”

The principal of St. Michael School sent a letter addressed to parents on Thursday, offering condolences and noting that a crisis response team is available to support students and staff.

“Our St. Michael community is deeply saddened by the tragic death of one of our Kindergarten students who was involved in an accident after school on Wednesday,” Micheline Boileau-Bougon wrote.

“The passing of Jaxson Mansfield-O’Brey has touched every part of our school family, and our hearts are with his family, classmates, and friends.”

Ottawa police officers were going door-to-door on Thursday to look for witnesses and surveillance video.

“The investigation is ongoing, and our thoughts are with the victim’s family,” police said in their Wednesday statement.

Police are asking anyone with information or with dashcam footage of the incident to contact the OPS Fatal Collision Unit at 613-236-1222 extension 2345.

Anonymous tips can be given to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

With files from CTV’s Natalie van Rooy.

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