Wyoming Student Struck, Pulled Under School Bus

The 6-year-old student runs to the side of the bus as it is departing her school in an attempt to stop the driver, but falls and is pulled underneath the bus.

Sadiah Thompson・Assistant Editor

April 25, 2019

2 min to read

SHERIDAN, Wyo. — An elementary school student here is in critical condition after being struck and pulled under a school bus on Monday afternoon.

At around 3:06 p.m., emergency personnel responded to a report from Henry A. Coffeen Elementary School of a 6-year-old student, identified by The Sheridan Press as Esperanza Lagunes-Aarstad, lying directly in front of the passenger’s side-rear tires of a school bus, according to a news release from the Sheridan Police Department. Witnesses said, according to police, that Lagunes-Aarstad ran to the side of the bus as it was departing the school in an attempt to stop the driver, but fell and was pulled underneath the bus. She was taken to the hospital, where she is currently in a coma and on life support, according to the newspaper.

Lt. Travis Koltiska with the Sheridan Police Department told The Sheridan Press that based on the preliminary investigation there are no anticipated charges against the bus driver. However, Lagunes-Aarstad’s family added that they plan to pursue legal action against the driver and Sheridan County School District #2.

Craig Dougherty, the superintendent for the district, issued a statement on Tuesday regarding the incident, the newspaper reports. Dougherty said that the school district is “devastated” by the incident, and is “praying for the student and her family.” Dougherty also said that the district’s leadership team is working together to provide support for its staff and students.

As of Thursday morning, a GoFundMe page set up to help with Lagunes-Aarstad's medical expenses has raised over $18,000.

Topics:school bus crash Wyoming Safety

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