Little Victoria Jones' life came to a tragic end Tuesday afternoon just metres from her family's Scarborough townhouse.The seven-year-old girl was struck by a van at about 12:45 p.m. as she crossed Bay Mills Boulevard near Eaglestone Road with her eight-year-old brother. The siblings - two of six children in the Jones family - were riding their bicycles through the pedestrian crossing.
And while the 41-year-old driver of the Ford van stopped for the brother, he apparently did not see Victoria. The driver remained at the scene.
Victoria was pronounced dead at The Scarborough Hospital, Grace Division a short time after she was struck.
For the last few months, construction work has been underway in the quiet community, near Sheppard and Warden avenues. Patches of neighbouring roads are currently uneven and water pipes line nearby streets. It is undetermined at this time whether or not the van that stuck and killed Victoria Jones belonged to these work crews.
Too distraught to speak with the media, Victoria's mother, Megan Pettit, accompanied family members as they laid bouquets of flowers at a memorial, which includes several teddy bears for Victoria at the crosswalk.
Strangers, neighbours and motorists also stopped or slowed down at the scene to pay their respects.
Allen, a neighbour who witnessed the accident Tuesday afternoon, said it didn't appear as though the van's driver was speeding and that there was no big impact when the accident occurred.
"It's a sad thing when a little child dies," he said.
Another woman, a grandmother of two, came to the scene from the Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue area, to offer her sympathies.
"I just had to come over. I don't even know the family. Outside her door ... that makes it even harder," said the woman, who did not want to give her name.
Don Gullison, Victoria's grandfather, said that his granddaughter was "beautiful" and "a special young lady."
"She was a star athlete in soccer. She was an A student in school, my baby. This is an innocent child," he said as his voice trailed off.
Moments later the grief-stricken grandfather retreated back to the family's home.
The family had recently moved to the area from Mississauga.
Toronto Police Traffic Services is currently investigating and witnesses are asked to come forward.
Anyone with information should call 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com.