A 14-year-old Gainesville High School freshman was waiting for her school bus near Heathcote Boulevard and Legend Drive in Haymarket early Tuesday morning when she was struck by a vehicle, suffering life-threatening injuries that left her hospitalized in critical condition. The driver of that vehicle stayed at the scene, but investigators say a second vehicle that may have also been involved drove off, and it remains unaccounted for.
The crash happened around 6:47 a.m. Tuesday, according to fox5dc.com, which reported the teen was a ninth grader waiting to board her bus when she was hit. Prince William County police have said the first driver remained on scene, while a second vehicle that may have been involved fled, according to Sgt. Erin Noble, as reported by InsideNoVa. Police have not released a description of that second vehicle, according to wjla.com.
By Tuesday night, the girl's family reported some encouraging news. She had come out of surgery and was awake, fox5dc.com reported. A family member told InsideNoVa she was awake and in good spirits following the operation.
Family Pushes for Witnesses and Dashcam Footage
The girl's family is now asking anyone with information to come forward. According to InsideNoVa, the family is seeking witnesses and any details about the crash, including dashcam or security-camera footage from the area that might show what happened. A family member told the outlet the family understands the incident involved a hit-and-run but is still seeking clarity about the driver's actions.
Prince William County Public Schools said the Gainesville High School principal has reached out to the family to offer support, per wjla.com. The family member also called for a thorough review of pedestrian safety around local bus stops, InsideNoVa reported, raising a concern that echoes broader worries about how students get to school safely in the county.
Bus-Stop Safety a Recurring Concern
Research into fatal transit-bus-stop crashes nationwide has found that midblock stops, pedestrians waiting on the roadside, and bus-involved crashes are strong indicators of risk, according to a study published through trace.tennessee.edu. The same research identified three common fatal crash scenarios: pedestrians crossing to or from an intersection stop, waiting on the roadside at a midblock stop, or crossing to or from a midblock stop. Researchers suggested that relocating transit stops to signalized intersections and converting in-lane stops to curbside pull-out stops may improve safety.
Prince William County has previously urged drivers to stay alert near schools and bus stops, reminding motorists to watch for children loading and unloading buses or walking and riding to and from school, according to pwcva.gov.
Similar Hit-and-Run Cases Nearby
The Haymarket case follows other recent hit-and-run crashes involving young pedestrians in the region. In east Charlotte, a 6-year-old girl was killed after being struck near a school bus stop on Oct. 23, with police later describing the suspected vehicle as a gray 2012-2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 with a sunroof and heavy front-grille damage, according to wbtv.com. In James City County, a man who allegedly struck a 16-year-old on Oct. 23 and fled was later identified and taken into custody, per wavy.com.
No description of the second vehicle in the Haymarket crash has been released, and police have not said whether that vehicle made contact with the teen. The investigation remains active as the girl continues to recover.
