Saskatoon mom seeks justice for 9-year-old daughter killed by truck driver
CBC
Rochelle Dubois felt she had no choice but to share a tragic video that shows her nine-year-old daughter's death.
Her daughter Baeleigh Maurice was hit by a truck on Sept. 9, 2021, while she was in a marked crosswalk on 33rd Street in Saskatoon. The girl had been on her way to school, pushing along her scooter.
Dubois is beyond frustrated, because it's been four months and no charges have been laid against the driver.
"I know [Baeleigh] did everything right that she could. I know that in my heart, that she's not at fault for this, and that's all I need to know. The public needed to know," she said. "I just wanted everybody to see the truth for what it really is."
The video of the incident was posted to social media last week and has been shared by thousands of people. It shows the marked crosswalk where Baeleigh took her last steps. A truck and trailer are parked near the crosswalk sign. There's a white truck that seems to slow down as it approaches. Baeleigh appears with her scooter on the sidewalk. She pauses briefly and then starts to cross the road. Just seconds pass and then a truck rams into her, not appearing to change its speed.
Dubois questions why charges haven't been laid yet. She doesn't understand why police won't even tell her the name of the 27-year-old truck driver. It's not fair that the truck driver gets to walk free while her daughter has been taken away, she said.
"She loved everything and everyone, and there was just nothing bad about her, and I miss her every single day."
On Monday, Saskatoon police released a statement in response to the video of the fatal collision saying the investigation was still ongoing. They said data collected from the scene is still being analyzed to determine what factors caused the collision, but also that they were waiting on toxicology results from the driver.
Police said that in "cases where there is a need to determine if impairment played a role in the event, additional steps will be taken, including the analysis of breath or blood. Decisions relating to criminal charges cannot be made until these results are received."
Dubois said police could have chosen to prioritize the request to the lab. Dubois said she has reason to believe the driver was high. She said the police told her that they found THC during the initial screening on the day of the accident.
In the media release, police also said that "the families of the deceased rightfully have questions, and part of our job is to address their concerns and provide the answers they deserve. In the fatal collision from September, we understand the added impact waiting for those answers can have on the victim's families."
Dubois said what makes the situation even worse is that some people have criticized her as she has amplified her calls for justice, casting blame onto her family. She has had to clarify things, like that her daughter was wearing a helmet and didn't randomly shoot out into the road.
"Society is blaming my child and blaming me," she said, choking up. "I have to live with this for the rest of my life. I don't know how that's not holding myself accountable."