Originally published May 8｜Updated on June 4
NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — A child has died after he was hit by a school bus on Friday afternoon in New Jersey.
Around 3:40 p.m., 7-year-old Hunter Smith got off the bus with a 10-year-old girl near the intersection of Bennett Avenue and Ashton Drive. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, they then walked north along the sidewalk, where they stopped before crossing the street. As they crossed Ashton Drive, the bus moved forward from its stopped position and made a right turn onto Ashton Drive, striking the 7-year-old.
Neighbors gave the boy CPR before first responders arrived to take him to the hospital. The child was later pronounced dead. The 10-year-old was not injured, nor was anyone on the bus.
A GoFundMe has been set up to raise money for the Smith family. It has raised more than $20,000 so far.
Greenwich Township School District is offering resources to help the community mourn the loss. The superintendent said on Facebook that people are welcome to Clonmell United Methodist Church this weekend, where there are mental health professionals and therapy dogs to help.
Starting Monday, those resources will be deployed to schools in the district. They will have therapy dogs on-site, including Scooby, an already familiar and comforting face for Broad Street elementary students, according to the school district, to offer additional emotional support.
"Our schools are an extension of our community, and we are committed to being a source of strength and support for your children. If your child needs anything at all, please contact your school’s main office starting on Monday, and we will do our very best to provide the care and resources they need," wrote Greenwich Township School District in a statement Saturday.
The incident is under investigation.
