MAMARONECK, N.Y.—A tragic incident occurred in suburban New York when a mini-school bus struck and killed a kindergartner and his mother as they were walking to school. The driver responsible for the accident will not face criminal charges but has been ticketed for failing to yield to pedestrians and for using his cellphone moments before the crash, according to police reports released on Friday.
Despite the citations, the 68-year-old driver will retain his job and may resume driving when the school year commences next week, as stated by authorities in Mamaroneck, Westchester County. The fatal collision occurred on June 20 around 8:30 a.m. as Molly Murphy Donovan, 43, and her 6-year-old son, Michael Donovan Volpe, were en route to the Mamaroneck Avenue Elementary School.
The mother and child were struck by the minibus driven by the 68-year-old just a short distance away from the school. Tragically, the young boy passed away at the scene, while his mother succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.
An investigation conducted by the Westchester County Police Department revealed that the driver may have been distracted by an ambulance responding to a separate emergency with its lights and sirens activated. Although the driver had used his cellphone less than two minutes before the accident, he was not using it at the time of the collision.
Related Stories
A request for comment was sent to the school bus company, Royal Coach Lines.
