Family Mourns Loss Of 5-Year-Old Andover Girl Killed Tuesday

ANDOVER, MA — The family of a 5-year-old Andover girl fatally struck by a tractor-trailer while crossing the street on Tuesday afternoon has released a statement remembering their daughter and offering more details about the tragic incident that took her life.

According to the statement, Sidney Olson, who had not previously been named by authorities, was walking to art class with her family along Main Street in Andover when she was struck and killed.

"Sidney and one other family member traversed the crosswalk on Elm Street, as the Walk sign showed it was still safe to cross," the family statement read. "As long-time residents of the neighborhood, we've followed that route hundreds of times before. The rest was a blur, and Sidney was struck by a truck and killed, leaving an impossible void in our lives."

According to reports, the truck driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. A spokesperson for the Essex County District Attorney's Office said Thursday that no citations or charges have been filed and are pending the completion of the crash investigation.

The family's statement said Sidney Olson was in the Springboard to Kindergarten program at SHED Children's Campus in Andover. The family remembered Sidney as a bright-eyed, energetic girl with springy curls who was known for her soft-spoken curiosity and her budding ability to de-escalate conflict and find common ground in groups.

"(Sidney) 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," the statement read. "She picked flowers everywhere she went, often plucking a rose from the garden in front of Enterprise Bank, despite her parents' objections. She memorized every lyric to a dozen Taylor Swift songs, gladly taking the microphone to sing along in crowded karaoke sessions."

The statement continued: "She was an explorer, whether she was roaming the mountains near our Warren, Vermont home in search of porcupine tracks, or circling the New England Aquarium, sea life book in tow, circling her favorites from splashy stingrays to the sleepy octopus.

"Our greatest hope is that Sidney's boundless love for everyone encourages others to look out for the common good of our community following this tragedy."

The statement closed with a message about the intersection where the fatal incident occurred.

"This intersection has long been considered dangerous," the statement read. "While we're not engineers, we also know our community can do better. 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."

The statement was signed by Eric, Mary Beth, Sidney and Ellis Olson.