A tiny bicycle and an infectious smile are what everyone is thinking about in town right now. Five-year-old Liam Pinheiro was just out riding his bike on a Wednesday afternoon when everything went wrong. He was struck and killed by a vehicle on Cherokee Street around 3:30 p.m. on June 10.
Liam was the kind of kid who left a massive impression on anyone he crossed paths with. He was a preschool student in the Acushnet Public School District. His family remembers him as an energetic little boy with a heart of gold and a playful sense of humor.
The little guy had a signature catchphrase that always cracked people up. Whenever he greeted someone, he would confidently look at them and say, “Sup Bro.” That simple phrase quickly became his unforgettable trademark around the neighborhood.
Local police say Liam was just riding along when the vehicle hit him. The driver did not run away after the crash. Instead, they stayed right there at the scene and cooperated fully with the investigators. As of Friday, the police have not filed any charges against the driver, and the investigation is still wide open.
The sudden loss has absolutely devastated both the Acushnet and New Bedford communities. School officials sent out a message to local families calling this an unimaginable tragedy. The school district immediately set up counseling services for students, staff, and families who are struggling to process the grief.
But the community is not letting the Pinheiro family walk through this nightmare alone. The Bristol County chapter of the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union stepped up to help out. They started a GoFundMe campaign to take care of the funeral costs and urgent bills.
The response from neighbors and total strangers has been nothing short of incredible. The fundraiser quickly caught fire online and blew right past its goal, raising over $100,000. People are doing whatever they can to wrap their arms around a family facing every parent’s worst nightmare.
