9-year-old boy killed after crawling beneath school bus – Law Officer

ORLANDO, Fla. – A Florida boy, 9, died on Tuesday after he crawled beneath a school bus and was run over when the driver put the bus in motion without knowing the child was there, according to officials.

The traffic fatality occurred late Tuesday afternoon at the Waterford East Apartments on Island Bay Drive in Orlando, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, FOX 35 Orlando reported.

The highway patrol said in its preliminary report that the bus was stationary when the child got off,  but the boy ran back toward the vehicle and crawled underneath just as the bus operator began to drive away

Troopers said the bus driver was unaware the child was beneath the vehicle and subsequently ran over him.

The boy’s aunt said he ran back to the bus to retrieve a football, according to FOX 35.

“It is absolutely devastating for this family that is here, but also for our investigators that have to investigate this type of scene,” FHP spokesperson Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.

Investigating troopers interviewed at least one witness, reviewed surveillance video from the school bus and nearby apartment complex in addition to interviewing the 54-year-old bus driver, a man with more than a 10 years of experience, in order to determine the cause.

The lieutenant said the boy was the final student to be dropped off for the day.

The bus was later towed away to undergo a mechanical inspection, FOX News reported. 

“It’s going to be extremely tragic for a long period of time and probably for the rest of their lives for what has happened here tonight,” Crescenzi noted.

The youngster attended Lawton Chiles Elementary School, according to Orange County Public Schools.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of one of our precious students who was involved in a bus accident late this afternoon. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the student’s family and school community,” Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez said in a statement. “To lose a child so suddenly and tragically is extremely difficult, especially for family and friends. We ask that you keep the entire Lawton Chiles Elementary School community in your prayers as they grieve the loss of one of their own.”

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