A tragic incident unfolded in Hyde Park yesrerday afternoon when a 5-year-old boy was fatally struck by a school bus. The child, identified by family as Lens Arthur, was hit near the intersection of Washington Street and Glenwood Avenue shortly before 3 p.m., according to WCVB. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as neighbors rushed to assist the boy, who had just disembarked from the bus and was returning home from school.
Neighbor Nathaniel Thomas recounted to The Boston Globe the moment he arrived to discover "a young lady screaming" and the child on the ground. "I got him on his side, so he could breathe better," Thomas said, as he tried to aid the severely injured boy until responders reached the scene. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Lens was later pronounced dead according to Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, who informed that an investigation into the incident was to immediately begin.
The aftermath of the tragedy had the community reeling, with Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper expressing "heartbreaking loss" and extending condolences to the family. Skipper assured that the district's focus remains on supporting the students, staff, and families affected, offering support services to those in need. The other children on the bus were evaluated and taken to hospitals as a precaution, a measure that underscored the ripple effect of such a traumatic event.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, also struck by the gravity of the incident, said to reporters, including those from WCVB, "I am completely heartbroken," emphasizing the parents' sentiment who never expect to send their kids to school only for something terrible to happen. In line with Wu's empathy, District Attorney Kevin Hayden highlighted the complexity of the ensuing investigation, stating, "We will do everything we can to conduct a thorough investigation." Hayden pointed out that with crash investigations involving video tape, GPS evidence, and witness accounts, they are "extraordinarily complex."
Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact police to aid in the ongoing investigation.
