Boy Killed as Dump Truck Crashes Into Bus Shelter

A 25-ton dump truck careened out of a chain-reaction accident Friday and plowed into a bus shelter, killing a 5-year-old Sylmar boy in front of his mother and injuring her and at least two other adults.

It was the third freak traffic accident in Southern California this week in which children or their parents traveling together died.

Witnesses said several people ran from the shelter as the truck, which was towing a backhoe, went out of control after an accident in the intersection, knocked over a light standard and a fire hydrant before slamming into the bus stop.

The truck bore down on them so fast that the mother and son could not escape, they said.

“People were crying and screaming, they were in terrible pain,” said a man who declined to be identified. “I’ve seen accidents before. But not like that one.”

Terrance Taylor Watson was pinned beneath the right side of the truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

The boy’s mother, Lucy Taylor, 35, of Sylmar, was hospitalized in stable condition at Granada Hills Community Hospital with a broken knee and leg, and back and neck injuries, family members said.

Two others in the shelter besides Taylor were hurt.