Ice Cream Truck Safety Bill Passes Connecticut Senate

WALLINGFORD, CT — The Connecticut State Senate on Wednesday voted unanimously in favor of a bill that aims to require ice cream trucks to install flashing lights, caution signs, signal arms and mirrors in an effort to keep children safer, the Hartford Courant reports.

The bill was proposed following the death of Tristan Barhorst, a 10-year-old Wallingford boy killed by a passing car after buying ice cream from a truck in his neighborhood.

Authorities at the time said Barhorst had just purchased ice cream from a truck stopped on the side of the northbound lane of Wiese Road when he attempted to cross the road in front of the truck.

As Barhorst was crossing the street, he was struck by a teen driver in a Jeep Wrangler who was traveling north around the stopped ice cream truck.

Read more: Wallingford Boy Fatally Hit After Getting Ice Cream: Cheshire PD

The 17-year-old driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, and Barhorst was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

“Hopefully, we can prevent further loss,” Sen. Will Haskell said on the Senate floor, according to the Courant. “This is one of those special days in the legislature when we can be proud that our government is responding in a bipartisan way. ... I’m thinking about Tristan and all those young people as I cast my vote in favor of this legislation.”

The bill passed the senate 33-0 with three senators absent, according to the report.

Read more: Obituary: Tristan Barhorst, 10, Of Wallingford

Barhorst attended St. Bridget School and had recently completed the 4th grade. He was a junior black belt and a member of the SWAT team at Leadership Martial Arts dedicated to becoming a black belt, according to his obituary.

He also enjoyed fishing, camping with friends, RC Cars, working with his Dad doing home projects, Robotics, basketball, crushing his Mom at "PIG," face-timing and playing Minecraft with Dominic, and loved doing just about anything and everything with his sister Sienna.