7-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Struck by NJ School Bus

7-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Struck by NJ School Bus

A 7-year-old boy died on May 8 in Gibbstown when the driver of a school bus made a right turn while two children were crossing the street, according to federal officials.

28 students from Broad Street Elementary School in grades kindergarten through fifth were on board at the time, according to a preliminary study published by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Thursday.

The 48-year-old driver for Holcomb Bus Services was heading north down Bennett Street at approximately 3:40 p.m. when he stopped at the junction with Ashton Drive to discharge kids.

After getting off the bus, the youngster and a ten-year-old girl strolled north along the sidewalk until they came to a stop at the intersection of Bennett and Ashton.

After then, the two started to cross Ashton Drive.

Hunter Smith was struck by the bus as it advanced and turned right into Ashton. Before being transported to Cooper Hospital, where he subsequently passed away, Smith received assistance from officers and locals.

The girl who was walking next to Hunter, the bus driver, and the passengers were all unharmed. The collision is still being investigated, and no charges have been made public.

The driver started working for Holcomb in 2024 and had no documented problems, according to ABC. Additionally, Holcomb is reviewing the crash internally.

Hunter's obituary states that the "love, pleasure, and light he infused into the lives of those around him will stay forever," describing him as "a happy, loving little boy with an infectious smile that could brighten any room...a playful spirit, a contagious laugh, and a heart bigger than most."