A 6-year-old Missouri boy was fatally hit by his school bus as he crossed in front of the vehicle, leaving for Christmas break Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred near the Oakland Mobile Home moment after the first-grader stepped out of the bus that still had students on board.
“This morning we were singing Christmas carols together,” Plattin Primary School Superintendent Clint Johnston said. “This is a bad day; it’s a bad day for our school, it’s a bad day for our community. We’re hurting.”
Johnston added that counseling was made available for students and staff even during the Christmas break. He asked parents to inform their children of the fatal accident.
“I think that it’s important that you start by letting them know you care about them, and you let them know it’s okay to hurt,” he said.
“It’s going to be a tough Christmas season for a lot of people, and we’ll get through it. We’ll rise. We’ll put together, but this is not the way anyone wants to ever have to experience a holiday break.”
