A two year-old-boy has died after being hit by a vehicle in the northern Manitoba community of Shamattawa.

The RCMP said around 4 p.m. on Friday, officers responded to the nursing station after a report a child had been hit by a vehicle.

After arriving, police were told the two-year-old boy had been hit near his home on Jackfish Road.

RCMP said officers spoke with the driver of the vehicle who said she was driving around the back of the home when the boy suddenly appeared and she didn’t have time to stop.

The boy was taken to the nursing station where he was pronounced dead.

Shamattawa RCMP continue to investigate and said alcohol and speed are not considered factorsin the collision.

Local chief responds to tragedy

Shamattawa First Nation Chief Eric Redhead said this loss is devastating to the entire community.

“Our children are sacred and the loss of this young boy is impacting everyone in our community. We are all experiencing shock and devastation. We are still trying to process the loss of this precious little life,” said Chief Redhead in a statement issued by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO).

“This is an unfortunate accident. We thank the media and others in advance for respecting members of our community by providing us with privacy as we go through our grieving.”

MKO’s Mobile Crisis Response Team is being deployed to the community to help those impacted by this traumatic event. MKO said other resources are also being sent.  

Shamattawa is locatted about 745 kilometeres northeast of Winnipeg.