What was
described as a friendly romp involving nine-year-old students at the New Forest
Primary and Junior High in Manchester,
ended in tragedy Monday afternoon.
A nine-year-old Grade Four student, who was a passenger in a bus transporting students home, was crushed to death between the vehicle and the school gate.
Dead is Keron Nembhard of Comma Pen St. Elizabeth.
Vice-Principal Alfredo Allen recounts Monday morning's tragedy which occurred during a shift change.
"The bus driver who carries the children including Keron was on his way through the gate and while he was driving Keron had his head through the window on the left hand side and another child who was standing behind the gate pushed the gate on him," said Mr. Allen.
"Keron received a head injury and half of his body from the waist down was hanging out the bus window when I came on the scene,"
Mr. Allen says Keron was removed from the bus and taken to hospital by a passerby.
Keron was pronounced dead minutes after his arrival at a nearby hospital.
Mr. Allen says Keron's death has left a void.
"Teachers crying, vendors crying, I am in a very somber mood at this moment. I happen to know the members of the family very well and to see such an incident happen to one of our family members," he continued.
Mr. Alllen says school officials are yet to identify the student who reportedly swung the school gate which slammed into Keron.
He says the bus driver and the gate man were on the opposite side of where the incident occurred.
Mr. Allen says regular classes were suspended after the incident.
He said the guidance counsellor and teachers have been mobilised to provide counselling to traumatised students and teachers.
Mr. Allen says several statements were collected and that school officials are co-operating with the investigators.
A nine-year-old Grade Four student, who was a passenger in a bus transporting students home, was crushed to death between the vehicle and the school gate.
Dead is Keron Nembhard of Comma Pen St. Elizabeth.
Vice-Principal Alfredo Allen recounts Monday morning's tragedy which occurred during a shift change.
"The bus driver who carries the children including Keron was on his way through the gate and while he was driving Keron had his head through the window on the left hand side and another child who was standing behind the gate pushed the gate on him," said Mr. Allen.
"Keron received a head injury and half of his body from the waist down was hanging out the bus window when I came on the scene,"
Mr. Allen says Keron was removed from the bus and taken to hospital by a passerby.
Keron was pronounced dead minutes after his arrival at a nearby hospital.
Mr. Allen says Keron's death has left a void.
"Teachers crying, vendors crying, I am in a very somber mood at this moment. I happen to know the members of the family very well and to see such an incident happen to one of our family members," he continued.
Mr. Alllen says school officials are yet to identify the student who reportedly swung the school gate which slammed into Keron.
He says the bus driver and the gate man were on the opposite side of where the incident occurred.
Mr. Allen says regular classes were suspended after the incident.
He said the guidance counsellor and teachers have been mobilised to provide counselling to traumatised students and teachers.
Mr. Allen says several statements were collected and that school officials are co-operating with the investigators.