A 13-year-old boy riding a bicycle in the southwest suburbs was killed after he was struck by a semi truck, according to authorities.
About 5:35 p.m. Monday, police and firefighters in Manhattan were dispatched to the intersection of State and East North for an accident involving a bike and a semi truck, a press release from the Village of Manhattan Police Department said.
When officers arrived, they found a 13-year-old boy who was unresponsive and underneath the semi trailer.
The Will County Sheriff’s Police, Will County Coroner’s Office and Illinois State Police, Manhattan Emergency Services were also called to the scene, authorities said. An active investigation was underway.
“We kindly ask for everyone’s thoughts, compassion and prayers during these extremely difficult times,” the police department said. “Especially for the children and the entire Manhattan community.”
Local news reports said Manhattan School District 114 sent a letter to families saying an eighth grader had been killed.
According to the MSD114 website, all before and after school activities were canceled Tuesday.
The school district did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s request for comment.
In a message posted to the Village of Manhattan’s Facebook page, Mayor Mike Adrieansen called the incident “tragic.”
“As a parent, neighbor, and Mayor of this Village, I share in your grief, your anger, and your urgent desire for change,” the message read in part. “No words can ease the pain of losing a child, and no action can undo what has happened, I wish it could.”
Andrieansen went on to say that residents have previously expressed concerns about semi-truck traffic, especially near schools, parks, the library, and the community center.
“We have shared those same concerns with the Illinois Department of Transportation,” he said.
According to the post, the village has taken steps to improve safety near where the crash took place, including “adding Rt. 52 as a size-restricted truck route.” The village also plans to add more crosswalks, an addition intersection at Baker Road at school zone signs near St. Joseph School, the post said.
The village is also calling for a traffic study, the post said, and has implemented a dedicated truck enforcement program.
“Our children deserve safe streets, protected crossings, and a town where they can move freely without fear,” he said. “Our Manhattan Police Department is working with the Illinois State Police, once they have concluded their investigation, we will make those findings public.”