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The family of Sidney Mae Olson said she was a "bright-eyed, energetic girl with springy curls."
The young girl was struck as she and a family member crossed Elm and Main streets around 5:15 p.m., the Essex District Attorney's Office said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sidney's family released a statement on Thursday discussing their grief and the daughter they lost.
On Tuesday night, our family was walking to art class on Main Street in Andover. Our five-year-old daughter, Sidney, and one other family member traversed the cross walk on Elm Street, as the Walk sign showed it was still safe to cross. 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.Sidney was a bright-eyed, energetic girl with springy curls. She was in the Springboard to Kindergarten program at SHED school in Andover, where she was known for her soft-spoken curiosity, and her budding ability to deescalate conflict and find common ground in groups.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, 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.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.For her last birthday, she wanted a rainbow theme because ‘it includes everyone’s favorite color.’
The driver who crashed into Sidney worked for the food distribution company Sysco. They remained on the scene and worked with investigators following the crash. The Essex District Attorney hasn't said if he intends to charge the driver in the case.
Sysco released a statement offering their condolences to Sidney's family.
"The Sysco family is heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of a pedestrian today in an incident involving one of our vehicles from Sysco Boston," the company said. "We offer our condolences and prayers to the individual's family and community and are grieving with them for their loss."
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