A 6-year-old boy has died after being hit by a school bus in Oklahoma City this week, according to local news reports.
The incident happened on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at around 3:15 p.m. local time, about a block away from Fillmore Elementary School, where the child was a first-grade student, CBS affiliate KWTV, The Oklahoman and ABC affiliate KOCO reported.
According to police, three children had just gotten off the bus, which was traveling east on Southwest 51st Street, when the 6-year-old ran in front of the vehicle as it turned south onto South Douglas Avenue, The Oklahoman reported.
The child was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
“When I got here, I saw medics working on the child,” Orlando Bonilla, who lives across the street from where the crash occurred, told KWTV.
“He appeared, whenever they were putting him in the ambulance, he appeared that he was not moving. He wasn’t conscious at all,” Bonilla said.
Bonilla added, “It was devastating to see a child go that young.”
Michael Morgan, a parent who was in the area at the time, shared how heartbreaking the situation felt.
“I wouldn’t know how to take that if one of my kids was run over by a school bus like that,” he told KWTV. “That is very sad and like I said, I’m praying for the family.”
Oklahoma City Public Schools issued a statement to the outlet expressing their grief over the tragedy.
“We are heartbroken to share that a Fillmore first-grade student was struck by an OKCPS school bus a short distance from the school shortly after dismissal today,” the district said. “Despite the efforts of first responders and medical personnel, the student has passed away.”
District officials added that their thoughts are with the child’s loved ones, first responders and the entire Fillmore Elementary community.
“Beginning tomorrow, we will have dedicated counselors and additional support staff on site to support our students and staff who may need assistance,” the statement continued.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. Fault will be determined as part of that investigation, Oklahoma City police said, according to The Oklahoman.
Law enforcement and school officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
