An 11-year-old boy died this Friday after being hit by a garbage truck while riding a bicycle in the Scottish city of Edinburgh. The accident occurred on Whitehouse Road, near the junction with Braehead Road, and emergency services arrived at the scene at around 8.20am.
As reported by the Scottish police, the driver of the vehicle was unharmed while the minor, named Thomas, died instantly. This is the second child so far this year to die after being hit by a garbage truck in Scotland. And last month a girl of the same age died a week after being injured in a similar accident near East Gordon, on the Scottish border.
The police are currently carrying out an investigation into the events and are urging the collaboration of those who were present during the accident to give statements. The CEO of the truck’s company, NWH Group Waste Transport, has stated that they are working closely with emergency services and authorities to resolve the case.
The little boy’s family, who is devastated, remembers the boy as “the perfect son” and the best brother. “He was adored by his entire family,” he said.
The headteacher of the boy’s Cramond primary school, Helen Donaldson, has also spoken out, saying that Thomas was a “kind” child who was “always willing to support others, and he will be greatly missed by all of us.” Likewise, she has offered her condolences to the school community and has assured that he will provide “support to the students and all school staff.”