LITTLE ROCK (KTHV) — The Garland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Friday morning’s deadly school bus accident.
The 7-year-old who died was Hannah Martin, a second grader at Lake Hamilton Elementary School. The bus driver has not been charged with a crime.
The Sheriff’s Office says Martin was hit by a Lake Hamilton school bus on Old Dallas Road, west of Hot Springs, about 6:30 a.m.
The accident happened in a rural area with no street lights while it was still dark outside. It is not clear what led to the accident or if Martin was in the street at the time.
During a press conference held by the Lake Hamilton School District Friday afternoon, Superintendent Steve Anderson said no charges have been filed in the incident.
Anderson said the bus driver was with the district for five years and had no prior incidents. He is a family friend of the Martins and his granddaughter was friends with her. Anderson said the driver is “distraught” over the tragedy and is on paid leave with the district.
Authorities said four children were on the bus at the time. They knew “something was happening,” but did not know that a child had been hit or killed. School district vehicles and personnel picked those children up and took them to school, where 14 counselors are available.
