11-year-old girl killed in collision with school bus in Rockville

A little girl died in a collision with a school bus carrying children in Rockville, Maryland, Thursday afternoon, Montgomery County police said.

The 11-year-old girl was riding or walking a bicycle about 3:15 p.m. just off Bauer Drive in Rock Creek Manor, a residential neighborhood. It’s unclear how the tragedy happened.

The girl’s family remained at the scene past 6 p.m., sitting on the ground and talking to police.

The death filled the neighborhood with grief, as neighbors stood around with tears in their eyes.

“I want to express our deepest condolences to the student’s family, friends, teachers and classmates,” Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor said. “No words can truly capture the pain that our school community is feeling at this time.”

The girl was a student at nearby Wood Middle School, which is where the bus had picked up students. Many students on the bus called 911.

Grief counseling is available for the students on the bus as well as the driver — none of whom was injured — and grief teams will be at the school Friday.

“This is every parent’s greatest nightmare and every educator’s greatest fear,” Taylor said. “We grieve together with the family and the community, and we are wrapping our arms of support around them in every way imaginable.”

The girl was the second juvenile pedestrian struck and killed in Montgomery County in just more than two weeks. James Evert Anderson, 16, was struck trying to cross busy University Boulevard in Kensington Sept 21.

Taylor said they will review safety after the girl’s death.

Police said the investigation could take several weeks.

Drivers were asked to avoid the area as roads are closed for the investigation.

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