Amaria Diljohn ID'd as victim in Scarborough TTC bus hit-and-run
14-year-old girl struck late Friday afternoon near Scarborough intersection
The 14-year-old-girl struck and killed in Scarborough by a transit bus that failed to remain at the scene has been identified as Amaria Diljohn.
A Facebook page has been set up in Diljohn’s memory. It includes several photos of the young, smiling girl and says friends and family called her “MoMo.”
She'll be remembered at a candelight vigil on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET at the intersection where she was struck and killed on Friday.
A fund has also been set up at a Malvern Scotiabank to help the family pay for funeral costs.
Pronounced dead at the scene
Police say they believe Diljohn was crossing Neilson Road, south of the intersection, at around 5:40 p.m. ET Friday when she was hit by a Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bus turning onto Finch Ave. E. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
"She was such a good kid," said Wishropp, who has known Diljohn since she was four.
"She was the sweetest little girl you could ever know."
Wishropp said Diljohn’s mother, Crystal, is still in shock.
Police say the driver failed to remain at the scene but went to a police station later Friday to speak with investigators. The driver has not been placed under arrest. Police have yet to say if he or anyone on the bus was aware the girl had been hit.
Police investigation continues
A Toronto police investigator initially told CBC News police expected to lay charges against the 27-year-old driver, but spokesperson Const. Clint Stibbe later said the officer misspoke and has since apologized.
Stibbe said it's too early in the investigation to determine if a crime was committed.
"We can't just rush to lay charges to appease the public," Stibbe said. "We're trying to get to the truth."
Stibbe said a reconstruction team is still on scene working to piece together what happened.
Both the driver and the TTC are co-operating with the investigation, spokesman Brad Ross said on Twitter, adding that video from the bus has been downloaded to help the investigation.
"The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the TTC go out to the girl's family during this very difficult time," Ross tweeted.
The details of the investigation have also been "traumatic" for the officers on the scene, especially because it happened just before Christmas, Stibbe said.
Police are hoping to speak with anyone who may have seen the collision.
Ideally, Stibbe said, multiple people will come forward so police can compare accounts of what happened.