A five-year-old boy named Cooper Villano was struck and killed by a car Thursday afternoon while walking home from school in East Haven, Connecticut. The crash happened around 3:20 p.m. at Foxon Road and Bennett Road, an intersection near Deer Run School and directly across from a firehouse. Firefighters heard the screams and ran to help, but Cooper’s injuries were too severe.
Since then, a memorial has grown along Foxon Road with candles, teddy bears, a rose, and a pumpkin left by neighbors who knew him or simply felt moved to stop. The driver remained on the scene, and no charges have been filed as the investigation continues. The East Haven Academy PTO has organized a meal train for Cooper’s family, and the school district is offering support to students and staff.
For those of us on the Suncoast, this story lands close to home even from a thousand miles away. Most of us know a school corner like this one, the kind we pass without a second thought. Pedestrian safety near schools is worth a fresh look in every community.
How do you keep kids safe on the walk to and from school in your neighborhood? Share your thoughts with us.
