JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — A child was struck and killed by a school bus in Jefferson County on Tuesday afternoon, Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed to 5 On Your Side. Investigators say the child was under 10 years old.
The crash happened at Oakland Hill Drive and Oakland Manor Drive in unincorporated Jefferson County around 3:20 p.m. Tuesday. That's about six miles south of Festus.
Troopers said the parents of the child have been notified. Investigators are still trying to figure out exactly what happened. The school bus driver did remain on scene and is cooperating with investigators.
A neighbor told 5 On Your Side the boy who died was a first-grader at Plattin Elementary School and was in her granddaughter's class.
“I heard all the sirens and stuff and kept wondering what was going on and then I went outside," she said. "Oh my God, I want to cry. The little boy is not gonna see Christmas. It’s very sad.”
Family members, the school’s principal and a nurse rushed to the scene and learned the first-grader lost his life after stepping off his school bus.
Clint Johnston, the Superintendent for the Jefferson R-VII School District, said tomorrow a number of grief counselors will be at the school to help the child’s schoolmates cope with the tragedy.
Johnston said this morning the boy and his classmates were singing Christmas carols and exchanging gifts at their school.
“It’s an absolute tragedy. We have lost one of our family members. We’re hurting, the community’s hurting, our families are hurting," he said. "The child’s family absolutely is distraught. On Wednesday we have lots of counselors at Plattin Elementary School from 9 a.m. until noon to help our students cope with this tragedy.”
Right now, they have not released any more information or said how the child was hit by the school bus.
This is a developing story. 5 On Your Side will bring you updates when we learn them.