PEARCY — PEARCY - A secondgrader at Lake Hamilton Elementary School was struck and killed by a school bus near her home early Friday morning, the Garland County sheriff’s office and school officials said.
The sheriff’s office identified the victim as Hannah Martin, 7, of Pearcy. The bus driver was identified as Steven Johnson, 55, also of Pearcy.
“This is a tragedy that has rocked this community and words can’t express the extent of the sorrow that is felt by this school and this community over this accident,” Lake Hamilton Superintendent Steve Anderson said at a news conference in the school’s Administration Building in Pearcy on Friday afternoon.
“The prayers of the School Board, administration, faculty, staff, student body and this communityare with the family of this young lady and also with the driver of the school bus,” Anderson said.
On the school’s Facebook page, more than 100 comments had been made by Friday afternoon, mostly condolences and prayers for Hannah’s family and for Johnson.
The accident occurred near Hannah’s bus stop shortly before 6:30 a.m. Friday, in the 3300 block of Old Dallas Road near its intersection with Myers Creek Road.
According to a sheriff ’s office accident report, the 2003 International school bus was westbound on Old Dallas Road when Johnson slowed down at the bus stop.When he didn’t see Hannah, he proceeded on.
Hannah and her mother were in the yard and, when they saw the bus, Hannah ran into the roadway and was struck by the bus, according to the report. No other injuries were reported.
“This is a very rural area with very little traffic,” Anderson said. “It did take place early this morning before sunlight.”
Hannah was pronounced dead at the scene, Deputy A.J. Tart said at the news conference.
Anderson said four students were on the school bus when the accident took place, but the students “did not realize what had taken place.”
Anderson said those students, along with students at the bus stop, were taken to school in other vehicles by school administrators.
He said another bus was sent to the area to finish Johnson’s route.
Anderson said counseling was provided to some students. He said all of the district’s counselors were available for students in any of the buildings.
Anderson said Johnsonis a personal friend of Hannah’s family, which includes two younger siblings.
“His granddaughter and her were friends,” he said. “She was in his house just a couple of days ago, so this is a very tough time for him also.”
Anderson said Johnson, who has been employed by the district for five years, will be on paid leave until the conclusion of the investigation.
He said Johnson has not previously been involved in any other accidents throughout his employment with the district.
Tart said that, at the conclusion of the sheriff’s office investigation, a file will be developed and sent to the Garland County prosecutor, who will review it and will “make the decision on whether charges may or may not be filed [against Johnson].”
Anderson also expressed his gratitude to the assistance provided to the district, including National Park Community College, surrounding school districts and churches that have offered to aid in providing grief counseling.
Anderson said he had visited with Hannah’s mother and stepfather Friday morning.
He also expressed gratitude to the sheriff ’s office, the 70 West Fire Department, the Garland County Office of Emergency Management, LifeNet, the Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation, and Community Counseling Inc.
Information for this article was contributed by Steven Mross of The Sentinel-Record.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 09/22/2012