An Aiken County preschool student was killed in a crash involving the school bus the student was riding on and an 18-wheeler.
The crash happened just before 7 a.m. Wednesday morning on Beech Island Avenue, in Beech Island, South Carolina.
The student who was killed, 4-year-old Kyrie C. Henry, of Aiken, was a pre-schooler at Greendale Elementary School and was aboard a special needs bus.
Kyrie died at the scene of the crash due to severe head trauma, according to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.
South Carolina State Representative Bill Taylor said that Kyrie was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Carlton’s investigation, along with the South Carolina Highway Patrol’s investigation has revealed that the school bus was traveling north on Beech Island Avenue when it crossed over the center line and struck an oncoming 1997 Freightliner Semi Truck.
The driver of the school bus has been identified as Barbara Moore, age 61, of Aiken and the driver of the semi truck has been identified as James Gillette, of Beech Island.
The aide riding on the bus has provided a statement that the bus driver was not texting, Taylor said.
There were indications that Gillette, attempted to take evasive actions to no avail and was hit on his driver’s side by the school bus. The bus had severe damage to its driver’s side also.
SC education officials say it has been more than 20 years since a child died inside a SC school bus from an accident, Taylor said.
Moore and another student were transported to Georgia Regents Medical Center, however their status is unknown, at this time.
Carlton says, “this is a very sad incident and our hearts go out to the families that were involved and especially to Kyrie’s family in their loss.”
A South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper said that the students on the bus were from Greendale Elementary School and Chukker Creek Elementary School, but the media was not told exactly where the bus was headed.
Counselors will be on hand at the schools Wednesday to talk with students.
The truck driver was not injured.