A community is coming together to remember an honor a child killed in a collision with a school bus.
According to State Police, on Wednesday, at just before 8:30 a.m., a Blue Bird BB Conventional School Bus was traveling eastbound on Old Colony Road in North Stonington, Connecticut at the intersection with Pinecrest Road. A Hyper Shocker Bicycle, ridden by 11-year-old Torren O’Grady, was traveling eastbound on Old Colony Road behind the Blue Bird School Bus.
The intersection is controlled with the use of a stop sign for Old Colony Road traffic intending to enter Pinecrest Road. At the intersection, the Blue Bird School Bus proceeded to make a left turn and entered the northbound lane of Pinecrest Road. At this time, the Hyper Shocker Bicycle entered the intersection and collided into the left front wheel/tire of the Blue Bird School Bus. A run-over event subsequently occurred.
O’Grady sustained fatal injuries.
The boy was a member of Stonington Bears Youth Lacrosse. They released the following statement:
“The Stonington Bears Youth Lacrosse family joins our community in mourning the heartbreaking loss of Torren O’Grady. Torren was one of our own—a Bears lacrosse player, teammate, friend, and part of a family that extends far beyond the field. We ask our Bears family and our entire community including our local youth sports leagues to come together in remembrance. Please leave a light on and a lacrosse stick on your front porch as a simple but powerful tribute to a young life taken far too soon. Let every porch light shine for Torren. Let every lacrosse stick remind his family that they are surrounded by a community standing beside them in love and support. From one field, one team, and one collective community—we remember #49.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been created for a memorial fund in the boy’s honor.
“…the family have asked that in lieu of flowers and the like, people might consider making a donation to this Memorial Fund set up in Torren O’Grady’s name, to help honor his memory and, in time, create a lasting legacy in his name that can continue to make a difference in the lives of others.”
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has video footage of the collision is asked to contact Connecticut State Police.
