In an unfortunate and somber incident in Montgomery County, an 11-year-old girl was fatally struck by a school bus on Thursday afternoon. FOX 5 DC reports that the collision occurred just before 3:15 p.m. at the intersection of Russett Road and Bauer Drive in Aspen Hill. Montgomery County Police stated that the bus, belonging to the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), was carrying students at the time of the accident, none of whom were injured.
Residents of the Rock Creek Manor neighborhood were left grief-stricken, witnessing the aftermath of a tragedy that claimed the life of a young student from nearby Wood Middle School. The girl was either riding or walking her bicycle when the accident occurred, as detailed in coverage by NBC Washington. Emotions ran high amongst family members and onlookers, who could be seen talking to police long into the evening.
Thomas Taylor, the superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, extended his personal and the district's condolences to the bereaved. "No words can truly capture the pain that our school community is feeling at this time," Taylor stated in an interview, as reported by NBC Washington, emphasizing the profound impact the event has on all involved. Grief support has been made available to the witnesses, including the students on the bus and the driver, with teams being present at Wood Middle School the following day.
The investigation to unravel the precise circumstances of the accident is underway, led by the Montgomery County Police Department’s Collision Reconstruction Unit. As reported by WUSA 9, it remains unclear whether the child was walking or bicycling, and whether she was within a crosswalk. The police spokesperson mentioned that the investigative process to determine the bus's direction and the child’s actions at the time of the collision could take several weeks to a couple of months. No charges have been filed against the bus driver pending the investigation's outcome.
In the wake of the incident, local road closures in the area were announced, with police urging drivers to seek alternate routes and prepare for significant delays. The exact details and cause of this tragic accident remain under investigation, and the Montgomery County community waits for answers while mourning the irreplaceable loss of a young life.
