Girl, 11, dies after falling under moving school bus
A schoolgirl has tragically died after falling under a moving school bus, reportedly tripping as she ran towards it.
Annaliese Backner, 11, was running toward the bus on Thursday morning (local time) when she stumbled and fell under the moving wheels, police from the US state of Colorado said.
The schoolgirl was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner's office who were called to the site alongside local police and the fire department.
Initial reports conclude the death was an accident, according to local NBC affiliate KKCO. An investigation is underway and an official cause and manner of death with be announced in a matter of weeks.
In a police statement following the horrific incident, it was announced that "mental health and grief support" would be provided for students, staff and the community.
"Our primary response moving forward is to honour the family's privacy and care for students and staff during this tragic loss," it said.
A neighbour in the area told ABC News affiliate KJCT that the young girl was following the bus after it had had already left the bus stop.
"We're just all in disbelief," the woman said. "I'm thinking about the bus driver, the little girl's family, all the kids, the first responders."
Grade-one student hit and killed by school bus on last day of school
In December, a school bus struck and fatally killed a first-grader in eastern Missouri on the last day of classes before winter break.
The young boy, a student at Plattin Primary School, had exited the bus moments before he was hit, Fox2 News reported.
“This morning we were singing Christmas carols together,” said Clint Johnston, the superintendent of the Jefferson R-VII School District, as he choked up during a news conference.
“This is a bad day. A bad day for our school, a bad day for our community and we are hurting.”
Mr Johnston described what happened as a “terrible accident” and said that “we regret it”.
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