Friends mourn girl, 14, killed at crosswalk

Friends of a14-year-old cheerleader who was fatally injured at a crosswalk in Dartmouth are mourning the death of an "angel."

Kaitlyn Murray-Selinger died in hospital Wednesday morning. Shewaswas hit by a pickup truckat the corner ofPleasant and Arthur streets Monday at about 5:30 p.m.

The driver was an 84-year-old man.

Murray-Selinger's classmates, friends and fellow cheerleaders have turned the crosswalk into a memorial to the Grade 9 student, with flowers and messages marking the spot where she was fatally injured.

"It's a very sad day," said Debby Morris, who runs the North Woodside Community Centre where Murray-Selinger practised her cheerleading routines.

"I don't think anybody can ever reason something like this out. I mean, my heart goes out to the mother. My heart goes out to the kids."

One of those kids is Maddy Darcy, a member of the Dartmouth Extreme Cheer Thunder. She remembers her friend as beautiful, nice and funny.

"She was like an angel," Darcy said. "It's just going to be hard to fill in all of her spaces."

Another cheerleader was killed at a Dartmouth crosswalk just over a year ago. Mary Beth Chaulk, 16, was crossing Portland Street when she was struck.

Ten pedestrianshave been killed at crosswalks around the province since 2000, according to theDepartment of Transportation.

"Our community needs to get together and do something about the crosswalks out there," said Jana Nickerson, one of Murray-Selinger's cheerleading coaches.

No date has been set for funeral services for the Prince Arthur Junior High student.

Her cheerleading friends say they will launch a fundraising campaign to help cover the costs of her memorial.

Police are considering charges against the driver of the truck.