MAMARONECK, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A kindergartener and his mother were killed after being struck by a school bus in Westchester on Thursday morning as they walked to school, according to the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department.
Police said that the pedestrians were struck on Mamaroneck Avenue near New Street at about 8:30 a.m., only blocks from Mamaroneck Avenue School where the six-year-old was a student.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene, while his 43-year-old mother was taken to an area hospital for further treatment. She later succumbed to her injuries.
An initial investigation showed that a school bus was heading east on New Street while heading toward MAS. Several parents and children were crossing the street at a crosswalk with the walk sign when the bus turned left onto Mamaroneck Avenue with a green light.
The bus had several students and an aide on board, none of whom were injured in the incident.
The Westchester County Accident Investigation team collaborated on the investigation with local police. A mini bus could be seen behind caution tape on the scene and authorities investigated.
“The driver of the school bus is cooperating with investigators, and it appears at this time that this incident was a tragic accident,” police said.
The bus driver is a 68-year-old man from Mt. Vernon, and at this time, no charges are pending.
In a letter to the school community, the Mamaroneck School District said that school staff has been informed of the loss and that it has mobilized its crisis support teams, which have teamed up with local counseling and grief centers, school psychologists and social workers across all schools, including MAS.
“There is nothing more difficult for a community to experience than the loss of life, and we know that everyone in the Mamaroneck and Larchmont communities is heartbroken by this news,” the message said. “We also know that the death of a child is particularly difficult for other children to process.”
The district is providing an opportunity for the community to meet with mental health professional on Friday beginning at noon at the MAS building.
School officials asked that members of the community do not come to MAS nor other schools at this time and that the district will be in touch with additional information when available.
Dismissal is to follow its regular schedule on Thursday, the district said.