McKeesport Area elementary student hospitalized after being hit by school bus
An elementary student from the McKeesport Area School District was hospitalized after being hit by a school bus on Tuesday afternoon.
The crash happened near Soles and Stewart streets just before 4 p.m., district superintendent Donald McFann said in a letter to parents and community members.
Regina George, a neighbor who lives nearby, told KDKA that the girl was hit while trying to cross the road after getting off the bus. Neighbors say the bus driver kept going on Soles Street before coming to a stop after screams from them and the students onboard.
George said she immediately ran to help the 5-year-old girl. She said the kindergartener was with her 12-year-old sister, who ran home to get their mother.
"My first reaction was to hurry up, run, and make sure that baby was fine, that she was good," George said. "I'm just grateful, and I thank God that it wasn't worse."
George said the girl was bleeding from her head, but was conscious. MacFann told KDKA that the girl was kept overnight at UPMC Children's Hospital for observation.
The girl needed some stitches behind her ear, suffered a concussion, and has lots of bruises, but was expected to be discharged on Wednesday, MacFann said.
MacFann also said in his letter to parents and families that an investigation into the crash is underway, and the district will provide updates when more information becomes available. The status of the driver was not immediately available.
The 5-year-old is a student at Twin Rivers Primary. It's about a five-minute drive from where she was hit by the bus.
