No criminal charges for truck driver in crash that killed 5-year-old Sidney Olson in Andover
ANDOVER - The Essex County District Attorney announced that no criminal charges would be filed against the truck driver who killed 5-year-old Sidney Olson in a crosswalk in Andover in May.
"The driver was stopped at the intersection," a statement by the DA reads. "As he began to advance forward on the light turning green, he was unable to see Ms. Olson traveling on her scooter in the crosswalk below. The driver was not impaired by any substances and immediately came to a controlled stop after the collision."
WBZ TV spoke with Sidney's parents, Mary Beth Ellis and Eric Olson once they received the news. "Honestly, it was a bit of a relief for us," Olson said. "We feel like the criminal investigation has been hanging over our head a little bit."
Sidney was killed in the crosswalk while walking to art class with her mom, brother, and cousin.
Sidney's family is instead focused on their advocacy work for pedestrian safety now. They cite a statistic that 42,000 people die in traffic accidents each year. "Any other thing that is causing 42,000 deaths would be a public health crisis, and so we want to bring awareness to that," Olson said.
Since their advocacy started, the intersection at Main and Elm Streets in Andover has changed. There are now "No Turn On Red" signs, and no pedestrian cross signs coincide with the timing of a green light. "It's bittersweet because the changes, Sidney would be here," her mother said. "But it makes us so happy that other children will be safer, all of us walking through will be safer."
The family plans to celebrate World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims on Sunday – but they'll be celebrating on Thursday at the Feaster Five Road Race in Andover. This year, the children's annual race will be renamed the "Rainbow Run" in Sidney's memory. Sidney has been remembered by rainbows because "she decided to have a rainbow [birthday] party that would include all the favorite colors for friends and her grandparents," Ellis explained.
The parents hope their advocacy leads to safety improvements for people walking and truck drivers. "I think [Sidney is] not only an inspiration for [the work]. I think she's contributing because everything we do is in her spirit so it's a way to build a relationship with her in the new way because we can't have the old one." Olson said.
