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Father critical of handling of bike crash

Police maintain incident last month wasn’t a hit-and-run
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Kevin Larkin is seeking witnesses in what he’s describing as a hit-and-run

A South Surrey father is trying to find answers after he says White Rock RCMP closed his young son’s hit-and-run case without catching the driver.

However, according to police, the child fell into a parked car while riding his bike.

Kevin Larkin told Peace Arch News Tuesday he is looking for witnesses after his nine-year-old son was clipped by a white SUV with white door handles while bike riding with a friend around 4 p.m. July 22 near Goggs Avenue and Best Street.

Larkin said his son suffered cuts to his left leg from his knee to his shin and suffers from pain in his hips. He added that his son’s bike was also damaged from hitting the SUV’s wheel-well, and the front tire and handle bars were not aligned anymore.

After taking his son to the doctor, Larkin contacted White Rock RCMP, which sent a constable over to interview the boy.

“We made a police report, they came out to interview him and that same day, made the decision to close the report. They just closed the report without finding out who hit him,” Larkin said. “The constable said that he spoke to (my son) and he looked alright, so he was closing the case.

“I suppose they don’t take hit-and-runs on nine-year-olds seriously in White Rock, which is a little bizarre.”

However, White Rock RCMP Const. Shaileshni Molison told PAN that is not the case.

“It was most definitely not a hit-and-run. It was more a child falling off his bike,” she said, noting the case was now closed. “It was thoroughly investigated.

“We don’t know what the child disclosed to his dad, but it’s certainly not a hit-and-run.”

Larkin said he has made multiple attempts to contact White Rock RCMP, but has yet to connect with the investigator or his supervisor.

“I’m looking for answers. It’s disturbing. As a taxpayer, I feel like I deserve more than this. My son could have been killed,” he said. “Although I’m a patient person, I won’t let something like this go.”

He noted that aside from the legal aspect, he’s focusing on getting his son back in the riding seat.

“We have to get him back on the bike as soon as we can so he’s not traumatized.”