A 6-year-old boy is recovering after being run over by a school bus dropping off students Monday in Columbia County, Georgia. The accident happened around 4:30 p.m. when the school bus was letting students off at Grande Park in River Island.
Authorities said the boy was parked on the side of the road in an electric go-kart as students left the school bus across the street, according to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, WFXG reported. The boy's father was apparently watching his son ride the go-kart in the neighborhood.
According to police, the boy accidentally put the go-kart in reverse as the bus pulled away.
Sheriff's deputies also noted the boy had driven the electronic vehicle underneath the bus and was run over by one of the rear tires, according to the Augusta Chronicle. Several witnesses, including the child's father, were there when the accident happened.
Parents of the students who were on the bus at the time were told to pick up their children where the incident occurred, according to the Columbia County School District per WJBF.
The child was not a student in the Columbia County School District.
On Monday, the district released a statement and confirmed the bus driver was not at fault in the accident.
"The Columbia County School District was alerted to an incident involving school bus 1310, serving River Ridge Elementary, in the River Island subdivision, Monday, January 9, 2023. The Columbia County Sheriff Office’s investigation into the incident concluded that the bus driver was not at fault," the statement noted, according to WFXG.
"Further investigation revealed that the young person involved, who is not a student of the Columbia County School District, was operating a motorized toy car which unexpectedly collided with the school bus as it began to drive away, injuring the young person," the statement continued. "Parents of the students on the school bus at the time were notified and came to pick up their children."
The sheriff's office said the boy was reportedly in stable condition.
"We extend sincere wishes for a speedy recovery for the young person involved in this unfortunate accident," the Columbia County School District said in the statement via WFXG.
Police did not reveal the boy's identity at the time, but the Augusta Press identified the 6-year-old boy as Courtney Calvert.
