15-year-old high school student hit and killed by school bus

CLARK COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT/Gray News) – A Kentucky community is in mourning after a high school student was struck and killed by a school bus.

McKenna Letcher was a 15-year-old freshman at George Rogers Clark High School.

The Clark County Coroner said the woman was crossing Veterans Memorial Parkway Tuesday morning when she was hit by a bus.

Authorities said there were several children on the bus at the time of the accident.

Following the tragic death of the teenager, community members gathered at George Rogers Clark High School to pray over the school grounds for all those who are suffering.

When Jess Toews’ mother found out, she said her first thought was to call loved ones.

“I know a lot of people who run down the street in this area. I actually live on this side of town,” she said.

With her two children attending George Rogers Clark High, she focused on how she could help a community in need of solace.

“There’s a verse in the Bible that says, ‘Don’t love just with words and speech, love with actions and truth,'” Toews said.

She posted on Facebook asking people to join her in prayer at the high school.

Dozens of people did so. Some anointed the building with anointing oil, while others gave a verbal blessing.

Craig Mayer brought his group of teens from Calvary Christian Church to the service, where some of them were grieving the sudden loss of a classmate.

“She was just starting her life, just experiencing the joy of life, so it’s a very sad situation,” Mayer said.

The community expressed hope that meetings like these would allow God’s light to shine upon all those affected by the disaster at the school.

“I’m really encouraged by the fact that so many people can come together in such a short period of time in a situation like this,” Mayer said.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.

School officials said the bus driver has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover Letcher’s funeral costs.

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