Three Children Critically Injured After Being Hit By SUV While Waiting On School Bus In Kentucky

Three elementary school students in Louisville, Kentucky, are in critical condition after being hit by an SUV while they were waiting for the school bus, according to the ABC News.

At around 8 a.m. Thursday, October 20, investigators say a group of elementary school children were waiting at a bus stop on Dumesnil Street when they were tragically hit by an SUV just moments after the Jefferson County Public School bus arrived to pick them up.

When a Cadillac Escalade that was traveling behind the school bus noticed that it made a sudden stop, it was too late to stop; therefore, the driver – who has not been identified – swerved to the right in an effort to avoid hitting the school bus but ultimately hit three children.

According to LMPD Dwight Mitchell, the driver of the SUV stated that “he didn’t see the children. Obviously, a bad decision, and it’s a very bad situation that’s happened. Our prayers are with these children that they recover, that’s the main thing.”

Police in Louisville, KY, say 3 children remain in hospital after an SUV hit them as they were boarding school bus. https://t.co/AAFJsDatIi pic.twitter.com/r5uYJnUPd6

— ABC News (@ABC) October 20, 2016

However, Melissa Hunt Hillstrom on Facebook wrote the following.

“I know from many years of dropping off and picking kids up from bus stops that the buses slow way down and start flashing their lights before actually stopping. Sounds like the driver of the SUV was following the bus way too close and/or was not paying attention if he/she couldn’t stop and had to swerve to avoid hitting it.”

“One report says the bus stopped too quickly but another says the bus was stopped with its lights flashing. If the SUV was a safe distance, at least a car length behind the bus, the driver would have seen the children and/or had time to stop.”

A witness, who asked to remain anonymous, stated that the school “bus comes up to make a stop and next thing you know I see a vehicle coming up flipping, and I didn’t think there were any kids until I got out and my kids were screaming.”

The witness went on to say that after the crash, “all the kids was bleeding” and she saw that one of the kids that were hit by the SUV was pinned underneath. “Only thing she was doing was kicking. And then she stopped kicking and then I ran down and tried to find her parents.”

“The next thing I know is the guy told me people came out and lifted the truck off her and pulled her out before the fire department got there.”

Several neighbors, including George Elliott, rushed to the trapped girl’s aid and lifted the truck to free the child, who Elliot says was in bad shape.

The three children were rushed to Kosair Children’s Hospital, where they were listed in serious condition, according to WKYT.

Two of the children that were hit by the SUV were identified by their uncle as Vanessa, 9, and Jaquana Johnson, 10, who were both students at Dixie Elementary School.

A third victim has not been identified.

Children Waiting for School Bus Hit by SUV in Kentucky https://t.co/qxPxVXgmOh pic.twitter.com/swDcf5o0ZP

— ABC Columbia (@abc_columbia) October 20, 2016

Allison Martin, who is the spokesperson for the Jefferson County Public Schools, stated that “the students did everything right. It appears that our bus driver did everything right this morning. It was just a day like any other day, and it’s a terrible and tragic accident.”

Martin added that about 20 students use that bus stop on a daily basis and “every life that’s on that school bus or waiting at that bus stop is precious to someone.”

Kentucky residents were outraged after learning the state made national news because of an “idiot.”

“Not the way we want to make the national news,” said Cheri Hall. “Praying for everyone involved and especially the 3 little ones who were just trying to go to school this morning.”

The driver of the SUV that hit three children at a school bus stop was transferred to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Louisville police stated that the driver will be “charged with having no insurance or registration.”

[Featured Image By HendryK Sadura/iStock]