Bentonville High School students gathered Friday night not only to cheer on their football team, but to pull together in support of classmate Megan Zandra Davis.
Davis, 17, was critically injured Thursday when a school bus struck her near the Walton Life Fitness Center in Bentonville at the intersection of 14th Street and P Street.
She remained in Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo., Friday night in critical condition, a hospital official said.
As Bentonville students voiced their support for Davis at Friday night’s football game, even Rogers High School rivals across the field hoped Davis makes it back home.
“I hope she gets better and that she makes it through all right,” said Jarred McDonald, a Rogers student.
Bentonville High School had counselors on-hand Friday to help students deal with Davis’ severe injury. Superintendent Michael Poore said officials can’t release much information, but that the community’s support for Davis is unwavering.
“We are kind of bound by law on not being able to release information about another person’s health care and where things are at,” Poore said. “Our thoughts are with that family and the young lady and hoping that she can recover quickly.”
Twenty-four students were onboard the bus during the accident; 19 students were from Lincoln Junior High School and the other five were from Bentonville High School.
“It must have been hard for everybody. Imagine what they are going through because they saw it and where on the bus,” said student Becky Potter. “I just hope everyone is OK and I hope she recovers as well.”