Child hit by car at bus stop, pedal misapplication cited

MARIETTA, Ga. — A 5-year-old girl was hit by a car after stepping off her school bus this week. She later died at the hospital.

According to police, the driver of the vehicle, an 82-year-old woman, accidentally stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake as she approached the stopped bus and veered to the right, jumping the curb.

Atlanta news station 11 Alive reported that the community has responded with outpourings of generosity in the wake of the accident. A local funeral home and cemetery are donating their services, and Cobb County Schools, the district where the child attended school, has established a memorial fund.