'Strong like Superman': Boy OK after being hit by semi while trying to board school bus

A six-year-old boy from Sandy Bay First Nation is lucky to be alive after he was hit by a semi-trailer truck Thursday morning while trying to board his school bus.

Leland Campbell was getting out of the car with his sister, ready to go to school in Alonsa, Man. when it happened, his mom Cara Desjarlais told CBC News.

"I was looking at my boy, opening my door telling him to wait and then I seen a semi flying right through that bus stop sign and lights,and then I seen him get clipped," she recalled.

"I just went running to him, he just looked like a little doll flying through the air."

Amaranth RCMP officers who went to investigate were told theschool bus was stopped in the southbound lane on Highway 50, near the turnoff to the First Nation, which is about 130 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

Its lights were on and the safety arm activated when Campbell crossed the highway to board the school bus, RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre said in an email.

A man driving a semi didn't stop for the school bus and either hit the child or passed by close enough to cause injuries, he added.

Whatever happened, the force was strong enough to knock Campbell's boots right off.

"One boot was about five feet, 10 feet around him and the other boot was, like 50 feet," Desjarlais said.

Watch video of the close call:

Boy, 6, survives brush with semi-truck

5 years ago

Duration 2:00

Surveillance video from Sandy Bay First Nation captures from a distance the moment a semi-truck passes the school bus six-year-old Leland Campbell was attempting to board.

The boy was taken to hospital and is reported to be in stable condition, but he's staying overnight in hospital.

Desjarlais said he's covered in bumps, bruises and scrapes, but she's worried about internal bleeding, so she's asking for a CT scan.

"I'm just worried about my baby," she said. "This is the scariest thing that ever happened to me."

Desjarlais says her son is very sore and can't walk very well. Still, she's grateful he doesn't have any broken bones.

'Strong like Superman'

After his close call, Desjarlaissays her son has started calling himself a super hero.

"He says he's strong like Superman... because he stopped the vehicle," Desjarlais said.

Campbell's grandmother, Alana Smith told CBC News she can't believe he's okay.

"There must've been an angel watching over him," she said.

Sandy Bay First Nation Chief Lance Roulette said the incidentshowed alack of respect for traffic laws. He said he wants to see severe penalties for the driver.

"Safety lights on schoolbuses are to serve as traffic lights for the safety of the children," Roulette said.

"We are grateful [that]loss of life wasn't the end result."

Manaigre said the 48-year-old man driving the semi stopped after the accident.He was arrested at the scene for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and was released oncourt-imposed conditions, witha future court date.

RCMPcontinue to investigate.