New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Massachusetts State Police are investigating the death of a young girl who was dragged by and then struck by a school bus after she exited the bus.
The crash occurred at approximately 4 pm this yesteday afternoon as the 9-year-old girl was dropped off at her stop on South Central Street Plainfield.
Preliminary investigation indicates that, for reasons still under investigation, upon exiting, the girl was not fully clear from the bus when the door closed. The girl was caught in the door as the operator began to drive away. The girl was dragged for a short distance and then struck by the bus. The bus then stopped at the scene.
The girl was a student at a school in the area. Several other children were on the bus at the time of the incident. The name of the school is not being released at this time.
The male operator of the bus is being interviewed by State Police detectives attached to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. The primary police force in Plainfield is the State Police from the Northampton Barracks, troopers from which responded to the crash along with Plainfield Fire and EMS.
A State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Team is processing the scene. The State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section is assisting with the investigation.
The bus company’s name is not being released at this time.
We express our deepest condolences to the victim’s family.
there are NB school busses that have defective/not working safety swing arms.
there are NB school busses with defective/not working safety swing arms and I suspect nothing will be done until a tragedy strikes. at which point people will say “we didn’t know.”