A four-year-old boy was killed during his return to school on Thursday, Jan. 2, in Sussex, WI., according to Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department (WCSD) news release.
The child, who has not been publicly identified, was going back to school at Willow Springs Learning Center after the holiday break when he was struck by a bus in the Silver Spring Intermediate School parking lot. Sussex is 20 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
The WCSD was alerted at 8:37 a.m. that a Dairyland-Hamilton bus carrying students hit the K-4 student. “The 4K student was at Silver Spring Intermediate School to transfer to a shuttle bus to be taken to Willow Springs Learning Center,” the WCSD said.
“The cause of the accident is still under investigation, and the bus driver is cooperating fully with the investigation,” per the WCSD news release.
A spokesperson for the Dairyland-Hamilton Bus Company issued a statement: “We offer our deepest condolences to the student’s family, friends, and the Hamilton School community. Dairyland-Hamilton is fully cooperating with local authorities as they investigate this tragic accident, and we are in ongoing communication with our district partners,” 12 News reports.
One Willow Springs parent, Waleed Edoud, told 12 News that his five-year-old son watched the accident occur. “During the transfer, my son said the kid that’s behind him got hit by the bus and it just missed him,” Edoud said. “He’s horrified. He’s a little five-year-old.”
Edoud explained, “There’s a transfer that happens between the buses in the morning, which we hate, by the way. The youngest one gets out every morning with a chaperone from the middle school.”
The Hamilton School District canceled Friday classes for all students and issued a letter to parents of students at the eight schools.
“It is with extreme sadness that we inform you about a recent loss to our school community,” the letter began, per Fox 6. “Out of respect for the family, we are not sharing additional information at this time. Please join me in extending our deepest condolences to this student’s family.
“We understand tragedy is sure to raise many emotions, concerns and questions for our entire school community, especially our students. Our student services team immediately began working with students and staff at several buildings this morning and will continue to provide support during this difficult time.”
Additionally, Hamilton School District and the Waukesha County Critical Incident Stress Management Team are now available to support students and their families during this time, per Fox 6.
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Representatives for the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department and Hamilton School District did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Thursday.
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