O'FALLON, Mo. — A 10-year-old girl was struck and killed by a school bus Thursday afternoon in O'Fallon, Missouri.
O'Fallon police said the child was struck by a Fort Zumwalt School District bus at Lupine Court and Snowbird Lane at 3:45 p.m.
Kyle Gaines with the St. Charles County Ambulance District said an ambulance was called at 3:48 p.m., and paramedics arrived to the scene three minutes later. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The O'Fallon Police Department was investigating the crash. A spokesperson for the department said that out of respect for the family's privacy, further information would not be released until a later time. A statement on Friday said the bus driver is "fully cooperating as the investigation progresses."
"Our hearts go out to the family and all those affected by this devastating loss," the department said in a statement posted to Facebook. " ... We ask for the community's understanding and respect for the family’s privacy as we work diligently to gather all information."
The Fort Zumwalt School District confirmed the girl was a student in the district.
"Tonight our community is grieving," the district's superintendent, Paul Myers, said in a statement. "A family lost a child, a school lost a student and our entire community feels this tremendous loss. At a time like this, there is no way to express the grief we all are feeling.
The district said counselors and mental health professionals were available for students and staff Friday "for anyone who needs to talk, or who just needs a few minutes to process how they are doing."
“I know many families, friends and neighbors are looking for support at this time, too,” Myers said.“We have shared resources that might help families with the difficult conversations that lie ahead. I encourage any community member who finds themself struggling with this loss to reach out to professionals for assistance.”
Myers acknowledged many people have asked how they can provide financial and other support for the family, and he said he would let the community know when there was further information to share.
O'Fallon's Mayor Bill Hennessy also shared the following statement:
"On behalf of the O’Fallon City Council, staff, and all O’Fallon residents, I want to share my most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the child who lost her life today. This is the absolute worst nightmare of any parent. Tonight, your family is in the thoughts of the entire Hennessy family.As our community grieves tonight, I want to acknowledge our first responders who were there tonight, and to the Ft. Zumwalt School District staff that will help the classmates try to understand this tragedy on Friday morning."
“This is a close-knit community really, Oh, my gosh. I just couldn’t imagine that happened,” said neighbor Mary Ann Schmitt.
A teary-eyed Schmitt said the child lived down the street from her home with her family.
“We came outside after seeing all the flashing police lights from our windows. I believe the child sold me Girl Scout cookies. I don’t know her name, but yes I’m sure that was her What a sweetheart, She was a very nice girl,” Schmitt said.
“It really hits me, This is horrible,” said Terry Murphy, who’s a grandfather.
Murphy turned the corner heading home when he saw the police scene.
“I just can’t believe this happened in our subdivision. My God, man, that’s horrible,” added Murphy, who also choked back tears.
Neighbors are especially remembering the little girl who didn’t make it home, her parents and everyone who’s hurting.
“I’m praying for them all. I started praying right away,” Schmitt said.
Beyond the school district, first responders are feeling the effects too.
Counselor Valerie Beason is O'Fallon Fire Protection District's mental health clinician.
Beason was needed after the dire call.
"In my practice, when people talk about their awful calls, the pediatric calls are at the top of the list. I know a lot of my fire service members, they see their own children's faces on the child and it's horrific," Beason added. "I think there's a lot of survivor's guilt and there's a lot of hindsight bias that goes with this. 'Well, could I have done better? Did I do everything that I could have possibly have done to save this child or this person's life?'"
Following the bus accident, Assistant Fire Chief Andy Parish immediately reached out for help.
Parish said, "We have employees here that therapy has changed their lives, saved their life."
Beason and Parish normalize seeking assistance.
St. Louis trauma therapist Richelle Shorter encourages that, too. Shorter knows how traumatic a loss like this can be.
"(Kids) very well may not display anything just yet, which, still give them the space to do so. You still ask the questions, if they have them, and you support where they are," Shorter added.