Charges laid in death of boy killed after getting off school bus in Lambeth

London police are expected to announce that charges have been laid in the death of a seven-year-old boy hit by a car after getting off his school bus on a busy rural road in Lambeth.

The announcement, scheduled for 10 a.m. at police headquarters, comes six months after Dante Caranci was killed on Longwoods Road on Dec. 16, 2024.

London police chief Thai Truong, Scott Guilford, the deputy chief in charge of community trust and frontline operations, and Mike Anderson, the staff sergeant overseeing road safety, are expected to speak.

Caranci was getting off his school bus on Longwoods Road at Murray Road when he was struck by a passing vehicle. The driver involved remained at the scene.

Caranci was a student at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Elementary School and was remembered as a "joyful, radiant child" who loved Lego, teddy bears, Fortnite video games, and playing hockey and soccer.

Neighbours have said cars continue to speed along that stretch of road, including passing stopped school buses.

Charles Bakker is a father of four and a nearby resident who has been pushing for safety upgrades, speed traps, additional signage and rumble strips since Caranci's death.

But as charges are announced, Bakker said it's important to focus on the Caranci family.

"I just want to say that my heart is broken," he said. "As a parent, I cannot imagine how this has changed the lives of the Carani family. I actually can't allow myself to even think about the story too deeply because it makes me tear up."

CBC News will update this story when the charges are announced.