A harrowing scene unfolded last Thursday in Haverhill, Massachusetts, when a 9-year-old was struck by a vehicle after disembarking a school bus. The accident occurred around 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Main Street and 13th Avenue, according to the Haverhill Police Department. The child sustained serious injuries and required immediate airlift to a Boston hospital for treatment, as reported by Boston 25 News.
Officers arriving at the scene discovered the young victim, a student at Pentucket Lake Elementary School, in the aftermath of being hit by the 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The driver of the involved vehicle halted at the scene, and it remains unclear whether charges will be laid. The gravity of the circumstance evoked an immediate response, with Haverhill Police providing updates via social media platforms.
The Haverhill community has been deeply affected by this tragedy, with school officials responding with support for the child's peers and educators. "We will have counselors at the Pentucket Lake School for friends, classmates, and staff," Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta said in an email to families and staff, which was also referenced by NBC Boston. The district's message urged the community to keep the injured student and his family in their thoughts and prayers.
The current condition of the child has not been publicly updated. Further developments in the investigation are anticipated, with local authorities and the community awaiting answers. Details of the event were sparse as Haverhill police remained on scene well into the evening, finally clearing the area hours after the incident, according to WHDH's coverage.
