UPDATE: The Dickinson County Sheriff's Office has released the name of the child killed this morning while crossing the road to her school bus.
According to the sheriff's office, Cecilia Graf, 7, was struck by a 2008 Ford Focus driven by a 15-year-old girl, at approximately 7 a.m. Wednesday in the 1100 block of 2200 Avenue, just east of Abilene.
"The school bus was stopped on the highway facing west, and early signs indicate that the bus had the appropriate emergency warning lights and signs activated," the sheriff's office news release noted.
Cecilia was transported to Memorial Hospital in Abilene, where she died this morning.
"The investigation is being conducted by the Dickinson County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol. The investigation is ongoing to determine any and all contributing factors surrounding the tragic accident," the sheriff's office release noted.
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UPDATE 12:57 p.m. Wednesday: A Dickinson County first-grader was struck this morning by an eastbound 2008 Ford Focus while she was crossing the road in the 1100 block of 2200 Avenue on her way to her school bus, Dickinson County Sheriff Gareth Hoffman told Salina Post this afternoon. The accident occurred at about 7 a.m., he said.
The girl, whose identity has not yet been released, later died at Memorial Hospital in Abilene.
Hoffman also did not release the name of the driver of the car. He said the investigation is continuing.
Salina Post will have more information when it becomes available.
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ABILENE -- A first-grader was struck and killed today while crossing a roadway to board a school bus.
According to a statement from Geoffry Andrews, superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Salina, the girl was a student at St. Andrew's Catholic School in Abilene.
Following is the full statement from Andrews.
It is with great sorrow that I am releasing this statement. On behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Salina, my heart is broken, and my thoughts are with the families of St. Andrew's Catholic School, in Abilene, and with the families and friends of those who are experiencing this tremendous loss.
This morning, a St. Andrew's first grade student was hit by a vehicle while crossing a street to board the school bus. She was transported to Memorial Hospital, in Abilene, where she later died.
We have activated our crisis plan and a team of counselors is available at St. Andrew's in Abilene, for students, staff, and families. We will do our best to provide support and will continue to work through this most difficult situation together. Mrs. Whitehair will be notifying students around 9:30 this morning. If you feel your child(ren) will have difficulty at school today, you are welcome to come pick them up. Please call the school office if you'd like to get your child before the end of the normal school day.
Please keep this child's family in your prayers.
Salina Post has contacted the Dickinson County Sheriff's Office, the agency responsible for the case. Salina Post will have additional information as it becomes available.