SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Students Fatally Struck at School Bus Stops in 2 More Incidents

A 9-year-old boy in Mississippi and a 7-year-old boy in Pennsylvania are hit and killed by vehicles while waiting at their school bus stops.

by Sadiah Thompson
November 2, 2018
3 min to read


Two students were struck and killed by motorists near their school bus stops this week, authorities said.

A 9-year-old boy in Marietta, Mississippi, was struck and killed on Wednesday morning while trying to board his school bus, WTVA reports.

Ad Loading...

Officials from the Mississippi Highway Patrol told WTVA that elementary school student Dalen Thomas died after getting hit by a pickup truck on Highway 370 at County Road 2578 in Lee County.

Thomas was first taken to a nearby medical center with serious injuries, and then airlifted to a children’s hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, with life-threatening injuries, according to WTVA.

Troopers identified the driver of the truck as Hunter Newman, 22, of Marietta, who has since been charged with aggravated assault, WTVA reports.

Raymond Craven, the assistant superintendent for Baldwyn School District, told WTVA that the bus was properly stopped when a truck hit the student.

Craven added that the safety of students is the district’s “number one priority,” and that the district will be offering counseling in partnership with a local family resource center.

Ad Loading...

Meanwhile on Thursday, a 7-year-old boy was killed at his bus stop along Huntington Furnace Road in Franklin Township, Pennsylvania, after he was also hit by a vehicle while waiting for the bus, police said.

Officials said the incident happened around 7 a.m., and a school bus driver for Tyrone Area School District found the boy dead at the bus stop and called 911.

David McGarvey of Pennsylvania State Police told ABC News that the motorist, who was allegedly unaware that that their vehicle had hit the boy, was traveling at a slow speed and did not stop after apparently striking the boy.

Garvey added that police are questioning several motorists who were driving in the area at the time of the incident, and have obtained a search warrant to collect evidence from the car of the motorist who is accused of hitting the student.

Cathy Harlow, superintendent for Tyrone Area School District, said in a statement posted on the district’s website that their school community is “truly grieved by this terrible loss,” and that the school bus driver and district staff are assisting police in gathering details in the ongoing investigation.

Ad Loading...

Harlow added that the district is also providing on-site counseling to staff and additional crisis resources for students.

The two incidents come after the recent crash in Rochester, Indiana, that killed three students and injured another on Tuesday after a driver passed a school bus with its stop arm extended and stop lights deployed.

The motorist, Alyssa Shepherd, 24, was arrested following the crash and was charged with three counts of reckless homicide and one misdemeanor count for passing a school bus with its stop arm extended, causing injury.

More Safety

Promotional graphic for a new Pro-Vision AI camera system. The image shows a monitor displaying camera views with AI object detection overlays, along with multiple cameras and recording hardware. Text reads "New Product," "Pro-Vision," and "Visibly Better." School Bus Fleet logo appears in the lower-right corner.
SafetyJune 11, 2026

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System

The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.

Read More →
A New York school bus in the street.
Safetyby Elora HaynesJune 9, 2026

N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students

New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.

Read More →
Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.
SafetyJune 8, 2026

America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse

Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 29, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate

Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.

Read More →
hopskipdrive whitepaper
SponsoredMay 26, 2026

The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation

Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.

Read More →
Emergency response personnel assist participants evacuating through the rear emergency door of a yellow school bus during a hands-on safety training exercise at Prosper ISD. Smoke fills the bus interior as responders demonstrate emergency evacuation procedures.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMay 21, 2026

Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas

Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
BusPatrol cameras on the side of a school bus.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsMay 6, 2026

Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards

After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.

Read More →
A group of people in business attire pose for a photo in front of a school bus, with text reading "Legislative Roundup: May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 6, 2026

School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes

From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.

Read More →
Graphic with part of a school bus and text reading "Fatal Accident in Brooklyn."
Safetyby StaffMay 5, 2026

9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection

A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with text reading "2026 Safety & Operations Report" with an image of the cover of the report.
Safetyby StaffMay 4, 2026

Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes

The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.

Read More →