ANDOVER, Mass. — A young life was taken too soon.
In the parent’s first statement to the public, they described their little girl Sidney Mae Olson as bright-eyed and energetic. They say everywhere she went she picked flowers.
On Thursday the community of Andover came together to help her family deal with their immense grief.
“I believe it’s going to be hard for us to heal but I believe we can heal. It’s a very strong town,” said Rick Meuse who grew up in town.
Five-year-old Sidney’s parents poured out their hearts in the message just days before Mother’s Day saying they are facing an impossible void with the loss of their little girl.
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“She was fiercely creative, styling her own outfits, choreographing elaborate performances, and filling our home with her unique brand of abstract art, unlike anything we’ve seen. She picked flowers everywhere she went…. She memorized every lyric to a dozen Taylor Swift songs, gladly taking the microphone to sing along in crowded karaoke sessions,” her family said.
Sidney was crossing in a crosswalk at the intersection of Elm and Main streets on Tuesday evening when she was hit and killed. Her family says Sidney was on the way to art class.
The driver of the truck from the company Sysco Boston did stay on the scene and cooperated with police.
The vigil was filled with people from the community who came to comfort the Olson family and many telling Boston 25 that the intersection where the accident happened is dangerous.
“We hope the town makes fast changes to that and other high-traffic intersections so no one has to experience the pain we feel right now,” her family said.
People who were leaving the service say it was sad but also a first step in healing for the Olson family and the community.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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