5-year-old student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine

A 5-year-old boy was struck and killed by a school bus in Maine on Tuesday morning.

Around 8 a.m., emergency personnel responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a school bus near 437 North East Road in Standish, Maine, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

The kindergarten student, later identified as Simon Gonzalez, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. He was a student at Edna Libby Elementary School, the sheriff’s office told News Center Maine.

The bus was from Maine School Administrative District 6.

There was only one child on the bus at the time of the incident, police said. The occupant was the half-brother of Simon, according to News Center Maine.

A GoFundMe was set up on Tuesday for the Gonzalez family. “As you can imagine, the family is unprepared for this tragedy and will need all the help they can get,” the organizer wrote. As of early Thursday afternoon, over $51,000 was raised, exceeding the $40,000 goal.

Students were dismissed early on Tuesday and classes at Edna Libby Elementary were canceled on Wednesday, but counselors were available, according to New Center Maine.

Less than one month ago, a student was struck and killed by a school bus in Rockland, Maine, according to NBC10 Boston. School transportation is managed at the school administrative level, the Maine Department of Education told News Center Maine.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing. Police did not say whether or not charges against the driver will be sought.