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Two mothers tried to save teen killed in collision

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CHCH News is learning more about the tragic death of a 15-year-old Hamilton student,
after police say he was struck and killed by another 15-year-old boy, who was driving despite being underage.

READ MORE: Teen boy dies in fatal collision, another teen in critical condition after stabbing in two separate incidents on Hamilton mountain

The incident happened Wednesday as classes at St. Thomas More were getting out for the day. Some very difficult and emotional details are emerging today as we learn more about what happened in the moments after the boy was hit: a mother says she saw him laying in the street, and pulled over her car to help, while on the way to pick up her daughter from school, St. Thomas More, the same school where the victim and suspect attended class.

“I just know if it were my daughter, I would want to know that someone was there, at least comforting her and I want his mother to know, that there were two mothers who were there, trying to save her son,” witness Melissa Kelly said.

Overcome with emotion, Kelly wants the mother of the boy who died on Upper Paradise to know her son wasn’t alone at the end. Kelly, along with another mother and a nurse tried to save him.

“There was shattered glass on the ground around him and I just kneeled into the glass and I started doing chest compressions,” Kelly explained.

Kelly says the other mother had a 9-1-1 dispatcher on speaker phone, telling Kelly how to provide CPR, “it just seemed like forever, like I don’t even know how many chest compressions I was doing and I could tell he was slipping away.”

READ MORE: St. Thomas More student dies in hit-and-run on Hamilton Mountain: police

At that point, she says a nurse took over until paramedics arrived.

“I won’t forget his face, I won’t forget that feeling, that feeling is the worst part. I was trying so hard to like, and I know this other mother too, we were both, we were hoping for a better outcome. I went to the school today and I spoke to the principal and I saw the students, and I saw his locker, and I saw his pictures,” Kelly said.

New details from police indicate the driver was behind the wheel of a dark blue 2008 Dodge Caliber and going fast, he is believed to have been driving erratically in the area before the collision.

Officers clarified that the white BMW at the scene wasn’t actually struck by the driver but struck by the body of the victim, who police say became airborne after he was hit.

A second charge has been added, dangerous driving causing death, in addition to Wednesday’s charge of fail to remain causing death.

“We as an entire catholic school system have the repose of his soul, his parents, his family, and the St. Thomas More Catholic School community in our prayers,” Hamilton Catholic Board Chair Pat Daly says he and the entire school community are shocked and deeply saddened by the news.

Daly says supports for students and staff struggling with the death, are available at St. Thomas More Thursday, including the social work department and the board’s compassionate care response team.

Local Ward 14 councillor Mike Spadafora who is a father and a St. Thomas More alumnus says pedestrian safety is top issue for Hamilton’s new council.

“One of my priorities is going to be working with the traffic department here at the city, Hamilton Police Services. This tragedy is unacceptable for our community,” Spadafora said.

Mayor Andrea Horwath and Premier Doug Ford spoke about the death at a morning event.

“I know Hamiltonians are quite concerned and upset, as am I as the mayor, and I just want to extend my deepest condolences,” Horwath said.

“My heart goes out to the family of the young person yesterday, that was a tragedy,” Ford said.

Daly says so far he hasn’t heard of any plans for a vigil or a memorial, but he says students are engaged in acts of remembrance inside the school.

The board and police say they will not be releasing the identity of the boy who was killed.