Montrealers to protest for safer streets after 6-year-old hit by truck

A protest is set to take place late this afternoon in the Southwest borough after a 6-year-old boy was hit by a pickup truck while he was on the sidewalk.

The boy, who remains in critical condition, was riding his bike May 1 when he was struck by a truck coming out of an alley. 

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Protest organizer Louis-Eric Trudeau says the goal of the protest is to push Montreal to do more to make its streets safe.

"When I'm with my son on his little bicycle, I am always afraid he might be hit by a car while coming out of an alley. This is something that is difficult to deal with, the uncertainty," Trudeau said.

He also wants the protest to serve as a reminder to drivers that using a car in the city is a major responsibility.

The protest was organized by citizens but a cyclist advocacy group will be present, along with several politicians.  

Southwest city councillor, Craig Sauvé, said Montreal streets and alleyways are not as secure as they should be to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

"The alleyways and the parks are the playgrounds of many children in the city. They must be made are accessible and safe," Sauvé said.

Participants will be marching to show solidarity with the family of the boy who was hit and remind drivers of how dangerous their vehicles are.

The protest is set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. close to the scene of the collision, near the corner of Laurendeau and de Biencourt streets in the Côte-Saint-Paul neighbourhood.

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Police say they are still unsure whether they will lay any charges against the driver of the truck.