A 12-year-old Seattle girl was struck and killed by an unattended SUV outside her middle school Thursday in what authorities called a “tragic situation.”
Seattle Police said the incident occurred at around 1 p.m. outside Washington Middle School as the student walked to recess after lunch.
“Preliminary, we believe the vehicle was rolling backwards, the driver having failed to place it completely in park, so the vehicle was rolling backwards down a hill when it fatally struck a 12-year-old student,” Police Asst. Chief Todd Kibbee said.
The vehicle rolled roughly 75 yards down a “slight” hill before the crash.
“The person who had been driving the car is being evaluated for drug and alcohol,” Kibbee added.
While police investigated the scene, the school sheltered in place, dismissing students for the day.
“We are heartbroken by this tragedy. We are working to provide support to the families, the students and the staff,” Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones said.
“We have a care team here in place to make sure we’re meeting the need of our students, families and staff.”
