Caleb Wesley got his first wobbly tooth last week, and was curious about what it would feel like when he lost it. As a six-year-old boy, he loved learning, reading books and was fascinated by the world around him.
He was walking to catch the bus to school with his siblings on Thursday when he was struck by a car and killed in Teesdale, about 30 kilometres west of Geelong.
Six-year-old Caleb Wesley, who was struck and killed by a car in Teesdale on Friday.
The alleged driver, an 84-year-old woman who police said left after the crash, was interviewed by officers and released pending further investigation.
Caleb’s school friends learned about his death in the hours afterwards.
The principal of his school, Covenant College, penned a tribute to the boy on Friday, saying Caleb’s death devastated the school community.
“Caleb was inquisitive, friendly, empathetic, and well-loved. He was always one of the first to show kindness to others,” principal Joshua McEwen said.
“He was a curious, interesting, wonderful little boy.”
Caleb and his family “put their trust and hope in Jesus”, McEwen said. The school was committed to supporting the boy’s family after his death, along with the wider school community, he said.
“Thank you to all who are praying for Caleb’s family and our school,” McEwen said.
“Our prayers are also for the many others who have been impacted, including those who witnessed this tragedy, those who assisted at the scene, as well as the driver and her family.
“We don’t know the circumstances that led to this, but we do know that God sees us, and cares for us.”
Two passers-by – one of them a nurse – tried to save Caleb before emergency crews arrived.
The 84-year-old woman was driving an early model Nissan Pulsar when she allegedly hit Caleb, who was crossing the road to the school bus stop with his siblings, aged 9 and 12.
Witnesses wrote down her number plate when she initially stopped, which later helped police to track down her car.
“There’s a six-year-old boy who’s going about his usual daily activity, off to school – it’s the worst news parents could ever have, and any parent receiving that news is absolutely shocking, let alone being witnessed by his siblings,” Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy said on Thursday.
The police investigation continues.
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