A 12-year-old boy who was struck by a Regional School Unit 13 bus that had just dropped him off has died.
The incident occurred at about 2:15 p.m. Friday on Broadway at the intersection of Eliza Steele Drive. Witnesses said the boy had gotten off the bus and then the bus drove and struck the child.
Sandie Favreau and Angelique Nye, who live on Eliza Steele Drive, said that when they got there no one was doing anything so they went to the child and began performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
Rockland emergency medical services responded within a few minutes, and the child was taken to MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport. He was then sent by a LifeFlight helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland. The boy succumbed to those injuries.
Rockland Police and Fire blocked off Broadway on both sides of the crash and the road was reopened two hours later once the physical investigation at the scene was completed.
Rockland Police said Friday night that “the incident is still under investigation and Rockland Police are coordinating with the Knox County District Attorney’s Office and received assistance from the Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle and Crash Reconstruction Units.”
The driver of the bus was Jeff Colburn. He was hired by the district in August 2016.
The identity of the child has not yet been released.
“Out of respect for the privacy of the victim and their family, we will not be releasing additional details at this time. We ask that our community keep the victim and their family in their thoughts and prayers,” Police said.
Students from Oceanside Middle School were aboard the bus, bus number 9. One student, Austin Haskell, said the boy got off the bus and then there was a loud thump as if the bus struck the curbing. Then people began screaming and the child was in the road behind the bus.
Rockland Police Department Chaplain Doran Wright arrived at the scene at about 3 p.m.
RSU 13 Superintendent John McDonald said the district is working closely with emergency responders and law enforcement as they investigate the incident. He said the safety and well-being of students is the highest priority.
“We ask that our community keep the student and their family in their thoughts,” McDonald said in a statement sent to families in the district.
Counseling services will be provided to students and staff who need the assistance, McDonald said.
In cases such as this, all evidence gathered by Rockland police and state police will be presented to the district attorney who will decide whether a criminal charge will result.