Coroner's inquest scheduled into 2022 death of N.B. girl who died after incident involving school bus

RCMP at the scene of the incident in Dorchester, N.B., in April 2022.

A coroner’s inquest into the death of a 13-year-old girl who died after an incident involving a school bus in Dorchester, N.B., more than two years ago will be held in November.

Hailey Pierce died at the Moncton Hospital on April 12, 2022.

A news release from the province says Deputy Chief Coroner Michael Johnston and a jury will publicly hear evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding Pierce’s death.

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The jury will be able to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances.

An inquest is a formal court proceeding that allows for the public presentation of all evidence relating to a death.

The New Brunswick Coroner Service is an independent fact-finding agency that may not make any finding of legal responsibility.

The first day of the inquest, which is scheduled for Nov. 4 to Nov. 8 at the Moncton courthouse, is due to start at 9 a.m. with jury selection.

Background information

Emergency crews responded to a report of an injured child on Woodlawn Road in Dorchester just after 2 p.m. on April 12, 2022.

The girl sustained life-threatening injuries in the incident, which involved a school bus.

Initially, the RCMP described the incident as a collision, but the next day they clarified that nothing struck the bus.

No other details were released.

The girl was a student at Dorchester Consolidated School.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.