Boy Runs Into Street, Is Fatally Struck by School Bus
Investigators in Nebraska find that the bus had just dropped off the 8-year-old at a stop, and the bus was continuing on its route when the boy tried to run across the street.
OMAHA, Neb. — An 8-year-old student died after he was struck by his school bus here on Monday, police said.
The incident occurred around 4:50 p.m. in a residential area of Omaha. According to the Omaha Police Department, a Student Transportation of America school bus had dropped off students at a designated stop on Sprague Street, just east of 22nd Street.
The Omaha World-Herald reported that 16 students got off the bus, and six remained on board.
After the students disembarked, school bus driver Ashleigh Avant continued her route westbound on Sprague Street. Investigators found that as the bus was traveling between 22nd and 23rd, 8-year-old Haji Mohamed, who had just gotten off the bus at the stop, tried to run across Sprague Street from north to south.
According to the Omaha Police Department, as soon as Haji entered the roadway, he was struck by the school bus. The boy was transported to a hospital in extremely critical condition. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, he was pronounced dead.
The Omaha Police Department said that the incident remains under investigation.
KETV obtained surveillance footage from a resident in which Haji can be seen darting out into the street in front of the school bus.
According to the Omaha World-Herald, Haji’s family had fled war-torn Somalia and lived in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the U.S. The boy had eight siblings.
“He was a sweetheart,” Diana Styles, an English-as-a-second-language teacher, told the Omaha World-Herald.
More Safety

How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program
Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured
Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
Read More →
FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →

