9 killed in 'danger zone'

TOPEKA, Kan. — Nine schoolchildren in the U.S. were killed in the loading and unloading zone during the 2003-04 school year, a decrease of 25 percent compared to the previous year.

Over the past decade, an average of 15.7 children were killed each year in danger-zone accidents. The nine deaths reported during the 2003-04 school year match the 10-year low, in 2000-01. The highest number of deaths in the past decade were reported in 1995-96, when 25 children were killed in the danger zone.

The Kansas State Department of Education’s School Bus Safety Education Unit reported that three children were killed by their own bus while passing motorists killed the remaining six. The previous year saw six children killed by their own bus and three killed by passing motorists.

The following descriptions summarize the details of the fatal incidents reported for 2003-04.