Ottawa first responders hold special day for boy after life-altering crash

Two years after a crash nearly took Jayden Hunter's life, Ottawa police, fire, and paramedics teamed up to give him a day to remember. Katie Griffin reports.

Ottawa police, firefighters and paramedics teamed up Tuesday to host a special day for a nine-year-old boy who nearly died in a crash caused by an impaired driver two years ago.

“It’s very kind of them, I didn’t think they would do this,” said Jayden Hunter.

“I got to see the people, the first responders to me, the people who opened the car I was stuck in.”

Jayden has life-altering injuries and had to learn how to walk again after the crash in December 2023. The driver pleaded guilty and is expected to be sentenced later this month.

• ‘He will never be the same boy’: Mother shares story after son struck by impaired driver in Ottawa

Tuesday’s event was organized by Ottawa police and saw Jayden check out a fire truck, ambulance and various aspects of the police service, including the cellblock and tactical unit.

“We organized a day where he could be put in the shoes of a first responder and civilian members where he would get to participate in all kinds of activities,” said Ottawa Police Const. Josée Provencal.

“It was very important for me to highlight the progress that Jayden’s made. With all the surgeries and all the trauma he’s been through. For me, it was important to just show him that, not just the police officers, but the paramedics as well as the firefighters, we are with him, we support him and we will be with him for his entire journey.”

Jayden and his mom Cora Hunter were also able to meet the firefighters who extricated him from the vehicle.

“Meeting… the people that held his hand in the toughest moment when I couldn’t be there, I couldn’t ask for anything better so it’s special, very special,” Cora said.

“Our crews don’t always get to meet the people that they rescue and this was a very serious extrication call in 2023,” said Nick DeFazio, public information officer for the Ottawa Fire Services.

“It was special for them to meet him and talk to the family and all the credit goes to Ottawa police for organizing such a great event for him today.”

Paramedic dispatchers also gave Jayden a call out.

“Our patients only see the back of the truck usually, so they got to be in the front of a paramedic transport unit. He talked on a radio. Our dispatchers gave him a call out. For us, if we can put a smile on his face, it’s mission accomplished for us today,” said Marc-Antoine Deschamps with the Ottawa Paramedic Service.

Jayden was also gifted a specially made piece of art signed by the first responders.

“I think seeing that you have all these people that are always in your corner, that are always willing to go to bat for you. That’s something, it’s beyond special,” his mom said.

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