Six-year-old boy killed while bumper shining on First Nation

A six-year-old boy was killed at Shamattawa First Nation last week as a group of children were bumper-shining in a snow-covered parking lot.

RCMP were sent to the community’s nursing station at about 4:45 p.m. Friday after the boy was hit by a vehicle backing up in the parking lot belonging to a business.

The boy was taken to the nursing station by the driver and died from his injuries.

Manitoba RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigre said the RCMP is not aware of any other incidents that have resulted in injury or death related to bumper-shining — latching on to the back of moving vehicles — in Manitoba, but issued a word of warning about the “dangerous form of entertainment.”

“For one, the driver may not be aware of what’s taking place behind their vehicle and secondly, the “passenger(s)” may not be aware of the dangers of a vehicle that may have to make a sudden stop or which may accelerate quickly,” Manaigre said in an email.

Drivers also need to be aware of their surroundings before putting their vehicle into motion, he said.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca