A 6-year-old boy was fatally struck by a school bus in New Orleans on Thursday, April 10, according to a New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) news release.
On Thursday, just after 8 a.m., Mayson Richards was killed a block away from his home, after he exited his mother’s car on Desire Street in New Orleans. He was running towards the school bus when it struck him.
After Richards was struck, the bus stopped further down the street. His mother then picked him up and carried him back to her car in an attempt to take him to the hospital. Two neighbors attempted CPR until an ambulance arrived, a neighbor told Fox 8. The KIPP Leadership student was then taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The bus driver stayed at the scene. The driver showed no signs of impairment and took a field sobriety test. No one has been charged, Reese Harper, NOPD Director of Communications, said, per WWLTV.
One of the people who rushed to the scene was a family friend, Pastor Fredrick Sweetwyne. “Having a six-year-old die in the street is very horrific. Our prayers are with this family and we pray God’s blessings upon him,” he told Fox 8.
He added that he spoke with Richards’ mother. “I can’t imagine what she’s going through with this trauma.”
“My little nephew is dead. You can’t bring him back. This is a problem!” Richards’ aunt, Andrea Haynes, told Fox 8.
“He loved his momma, he loved his grandma, his uncle, he loved his paw paw. He loved everybody. He was a good child, a fun child and played every day. He was an awesome, awesome nephew,” she said. She also said that although no one has been charged, “there will be a lawsuit,” per WWLTV.
An investigation into the fatal accident is ongoing.
Richards’ school, KIPP New Orleans School, released a statement, sharing that students’ and staff’s safety is a “top priority.” The school also announced that grief counseling and support services will be available for those affected.
“I am devastated to learn of the tragic loss of Mayson Richards,” the NOLA Public Schools superintendent-elect, Dr. Fateama Fulmore, said in a separate statement. “Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and classmates impacted by this heartbreaking incident.”
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell also expressed her condolences. “Today, our City mourns the heartbreaking loss of 6-year-old Mayson Richards, a bright, joyful child whose life was tragically cut short.”
“As a mother, I cannot begin to imagine the pain Mason’s family is experiencing. Our hearts are with them during this unimaginable time,” she said. “May his soul rest in perfect peace, and may his family find comfort in the love and support of the entire City of New Orleans.”
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A representative for NOLA Public Schools did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Friday.
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