A 13-year-old girl suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a Toronto hospital after being struck by a garbage truck while getting off a school bus on Erbs Road west of Wilmot Line.
Emergency crews were called to the scene east of St. Agatha in Wilmot Township shortly before 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.
The accident occurred in front of Herrle's Country Farm Market.
Elsie Herrle says it was her 13-year-old granddaughter Lydia Herrle who was struck by the garbage truck while getting off the school bus.
She says Lydia is now in a medically induced coma with several broken bones, including a skull fracture. Her condition is described as stable but critical.
Many have taken to Twitter to express their support for the close-knit Herrle family, who run the market and are well-known in the community.
Lydia's uncle Trevor Herrle responded, tweeting on Thursday, "Thank you SO much for your concern and prayers, please continue, injuries are severe, twill be a long night."
Waterloo Region police say it appears the truck driver hit the bus and then the young girl, but it's unclear how the truck ended up in the ditch.
The bus has its arm out and lights flashing while it was stopped.
Elsie Herrle says the girl was unconscious but breathing on her own after the accident and the family is praying for her recovery.
The girl was transported by ambulance to Grand River Hospital and later airlifted to Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.
A small crowd of family, friends and neighbours gathered at the scene to offer their support after the accident as parents arrived to pick up the other children still on the bus.
Waterloo Regional Police have not yet laid any charges in the collision.
