Three children waiting for a school bus were struck by an SUV Thursday morning the Parkland neighborhood. According to the Louisville Metro Police Department, the driver of an SUV tried to avoid rear-ending the school bus and swerved out of the way only to hit the children waiting at the bus stop. The accident happened about 8 a.m. at 32nd and Dumesnil Streets. Two of the children are in critical condition, and the third is in serious condition at Children's Hospital. All victims are elementary school age children, and two are siblings.
Original reports said the man was trying to pass the bus and ran a stoplight, but that information was incorrect. The driver of a Cadillac Escalade was traveling eastbound on Dumesnil and did not notice the bus in front of him had come to a stop. Police say the man reactively swerved to the right side of the bus to avoid a collision and struck the children. The three children were students at Dixie Elementary School in Jefferson County Public Schools and were waiting on a sidewalk to be picked up at a bus stop.
The driver of the SUV was also injured in the accident and taken to the University of Louisville Hospital where he is said to be in serious condition. Police say the driver is facing charges of failure to have required insurance and no registration. Friends and family of the driver said the father of two is not a reckless person and this was a tragic accident. The man stayed on scene and tried to help the children.
Hundreds of accident happen every day while students are being transported to school. If your child has been injured while waiting at a bus stop, walking to school or on a school bus, please contact Meyerkord & Kurth, LLC.