Boston metropolis councilors as soon as once more introduced ahead problems with pedestrian security Thursday after 5-year-old Lens Arthur Joseph was fatally hit by a faculty bus in Hyde Park on Monday.
“In the hearts of a lot of the residents in my district, the conversation of transportation safety and pedestrian safety has been very heavily on their minds since the tragic death of Lens,” mentioned Councilor Enrique Pepen, who represents Hyde Park. “And we all know that while the investigation is still ongoing, trying to get to the specifics of what happened, we all know that it involved a vehicle, a school bus, and a child.”
Lens Arthur Joseph, a kindergartner at UP Academy in Dorchester, was hit by a faculty bus round 2:45 p.m. close to 107 Washington St. in Hyde Park. The boy was taken to Boston Kids’s Hospital, the place he died.
An investigation into the accident is ongoing, and Boston Police and the Suffolk DA’s workplace mentioned they haven’t any new updates on the case or fees on Thursday.
Councilors Pepen and Benjamin Weber sponsored a listening to order Thursday to deal with easy methods to make streets safer. Pepen raised a number of matters, together with “adding more cross crosswalks, stop signs, speed homes, crossing guards, anything to slow down drivers.”
“There really isn’t one answer to all this,” mentioned Pepen. “We have to look at this on a holistic lens. So I’m heavily urging the administration to take this seriously and to act quicker than just a hearing.”
Councilor Sharon Durkan, chair of the Planning, Growth, and Transportation committee, famous the problem of velocity humps and pedestrian security has been raised on the ground 4 instances and advised combining the listening to with one scheduled June 9 on the subject.
Lens Arthur Joseph’s household arrange a GoFundMe marketing campaign following “overwhelming outreach and desired support from the community near and far” to “help through this tragedy.”
On the marketing campaign website, the younger boy’s uncle Ricardo Joseph wrote that at solely 5 years previous Lens had “so many big dreams for himself and an imagination beyond his years.”
“At only 3 years old Lens could say with confidence ‘I want to be a pilot,’” Joseph wrote. “By 5 years old the vision had changed and he told anyone that would listen ‘I want to be a cop.’ Lens’ smile lit up every room he was in, and his energy was unmatched. Lens was so funny and witty that he would make all of us laugh out loud with a joke or comment and then look at him wondering how did he come up with it.”
The kindergartener cherished operating outdoors, taking part in together with his siblings and cousins, watching planes fly, and seeing quick vehicles.
“Lens was a beautiful, curious, and intelligent boy taken from us too soon,” Joseph wrote.
… “As we grieve and face this heartbreaking new reality, we would like to extend our appreciation for the generosity and compassion shown to our family from all those also affected by the tragic loss of our loving Lens.”
BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper mentioned Wednesday that she has been “in direct contact with Lens’ family” and famous that the district is coordinating with UP Academy Dorchester to coordinate counseling providers and different sources for the group.
“In this very difficult time, we are grateful for the outpouring of care and compassion from across our school community and the city,” Skipper mentioned.
