A 13-year-old boy was seriously injured after being struck by a school bus in West Valley, as confirmed by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The crash took place near Bethany Home Road and Dysart Road during the afternoon of May 16, with deputies responding to the scene around 4 p.m.
While the cause of the tragic incident has yet to firmly be established, the teen has been reported to be in a stable condition at the hospital. According to a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, "The cause of the crash is unknown at this time. Deputies are investigating."
The boy, a student at L. Thomas Heck Middle School, was riding his bike home when the crash occurred. The ABC15 report states that following the severity of the injuries sustained, the student was airlifted to Phoenix Children's for immediate care.
In a statement echoing through both reports, a District spokesperson said, "Due to the severity of the injuries, the student was airlifted to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Our thoughts are with the student and their family during this difficult time." Litchfield Elementary School District stresses that student safety remains their top concern and has vowed to fully cooperate with local authorities to swiftly determine the crash's contributing factors.
This unfortunate event has again moved the community's attention towards ensuring child safety on its roadways, especially during school commute times. Officials remain on the task to understand the circumstance of how the boy was run over. The investigation is ongoing.
