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Boy, 7, killed by wayward truck in New Castle made honorary police officer

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Hundreds of people attended the visitations Friday for a Lawrence County boy who was hit by a truck and killed while playing in a front yard on Sunday.

Funeral services for Octavius Stone, 7, are scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Church in New Castle.

Several police officers were among the many people in attendance Friday. The officers were in tears as they handed Stone’s family a badge and credentials making the boy an honorary officer.

Stone said one of his dreams was to one day become a police officer.

“He deserved to be honored. He made me very proud and he would have been really proud too,” Stone’s mother, Chanet Jones, said.

A lot of people also wore superhero shirts outside of the church on Friday to honor Stone’s fondness of superheroes.

Police said the accident happened Sunday afternoon on Stanton Avenue.

The driver of the pickup truck, Virgil Coonfare, is facing charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.

Coonfare was released from jail on bond Friday.