Yesterday morning, the worst-case scenario played out in New Orleans when a 6-year-old boy left his mother’s car to board his school bus.

It happened in the St. Claude neighborhood. The boy, identified as Mason Richards, attended Kipp Leadership, a charter school.

According to a WDSU report, the driver who works for J.J. Julien Transportation, did not see the child. Mason was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died. 

The school issued the following statement:

"We are deeply saddened to confirm that a student at KIPP Leadership has tragically passed away following a bus accident. Our thoughts are with the family, and we are offering our full support to them and to our school community during this incredibly difficult time.

"We are working closely with local authorities to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy. Because this is an official investigation, we have been asked by NOPD to defer all questions to them. The safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our top priority, and we are providing grief counseling and support services for those affected. We ask that you respect the privacy of the family during this time."

Police are investigating.

It’s the third time in 2025 that this has happened that we know of: Last month, a pre-K boy in Texas died after trying to get on his bus, and in January, a 5-year-old was struck and killed in Wisconsin.