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Police have identified the 8-year-old Van Buren girl who was killed Wednesday when she was struck by an ambulance while crossing the road near her home.
Police said Emma Cormier attempted to cross Van Buren’s Main Street, which is also U.S. Route 1, in the area of Kennedy Terrace around 4 p.m., when an ambulance operated by the Van Buren Ambulance Service hit her.
Ambulance workers gave aid at the scene, but Cormier “succumbed to her injuries,” Maine State Police spokesperson Shannon Moss said.
Moss identified the driver of the ambulance as 46-year-old Amanda Skidgel of Van Buren.
Birth records show Cormier turned 8 on Aug. 25, just two days before the collision.
An online fundraiser to help Cormier’s family cover “funeral expenses, medical bills, and the loss of income,” has already raised nearly $15,000 in the 17 hours since it was created.
“The family is in complete shambles, and the whole town’s hearts heavy due to the void Emma’s passing has caused,” the fundraiser’s description reads.
“Emma brought so much joy and light into the lives of everyone who knew her. Her infectious laughter, bright smile, and beautiful spirit radiated warmth and love. Her kindness and compassion were evident in how she cared for others. Though her time here with us was too brief, the impact she made will forever be felt.”
The ambulance was not responding to an emergency and police don’t believe speed was a factor in the crash. The investigation is ongoing.
The Van Buren Ambulance Service and Town Manager Luke Dyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
