9-Year-Old Girl Dies Shielding Twin Brothers from Oncoming Car
School bus stop safety has gained the attention of the country recently as multiple crashes involving school-aged children have been reported.
One particular incident on Oct. 30 took place in Rochester, Indiana, around 7:15 a.m. right before sunrise, WGN TV reported.
Four children were crossing State Road 25, headed to their school bus stop. “The bus had its systems activated… with the stop arm extended,” Sgt. Tony Slocum of Indiana State Police told WGN. “Road conditions were clear.”
The children should have been able to cross the road safely at that time. Sadly, three of them were hit and killed by a pickup truck and one has sustained serious injuries.
Fly high with the angels Xzavier,Mason and Alivia ?????
Police said the children were two 6-year-old twin boys and their 9-year-old sister. They have been identified 6-year-old Xzavier and Mason Ingle and 9-year-old Alivia Stahl. All three… https://t.co/aC5cFhmOGU— Dolly Loretta Russo (@dolly19631966) October 30, 2018
According to Indy Star, 11-year-old Maverik Lowe, who attends Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, was airlifted after being hit by the truck.
The other three children, twin siblings Xzavier and Mason Ingle, along with their older sister Alivia Stahl, were killed at the scene.
The brothers were 6 and Alivia was 9. All three attended Mentone Elementary School. Inside Edition reported that the 9-year-old is believed to have shielded her younger brothers from the truck.
Alivia Stahl, 9 years old. Photo with permission from family. pic.twitter.com/Kq7Z2kbXVx
— Matthew McClellan (@mcclellantv) October 30, 2018
“I don’t get to watch my baby grow up,” Michael Stahl said at a vigil held on Nov. 2, according to WLS.
“I don’t get to watch her have her Sweet 16,” he continued, “don’t get to watch her have prom, I don’t get to take her and walk her down the aisle to get married. That’s all gone. It’s gone. I don’t get that she don’t get to live that.”
GoFundMe campaigns have been started for each of the families. To help with Maverik’s medical bills, or to donate to the family of Alivia and her twin brothers, please visit their pages.
UPDATE: Alyssa Shepherd, 24, of Rochester, IN charged with 3 counts of reckless homicide in the deaths of twins Mason & Xzavier Ingle, 6, and Alivia Stahl, 9. Police say Shepherd was the driver of the pickup that killed the siblings while boarding a school bus pic.twitter.com/sjEN6wGVTH
— Sean Lewis (@seanlewiswgn) October 30, 2018
As far as the driver of the pickup truck goes, IndyStar reported that 24-year-old Alyssa Shepherd has been arrested and charged on three counts reckless homicide, along with a misdemeanor for passing the school bus when its signal was extended.
This incident is heartbreaking for everyone involved. Three children lost their lives and another remains in the hospital with critical injuries.
Alivia Stahl’s best friend left her favorite teddy bear at a small memorial near the school bus stop where Alivia and her two siblings were hit and killed yesterday. pic.twitter.com/42O36CETBT
— Jennie Runevitch (@JennieWTHR) October 31, 2018
The state and community have called for change. The bus stop has already been relocated inside the trailer park so there won’t be any need for students there to cross the busy road.
“Several lawmakers said they’re considering ways to make it easier to enforce laws on school bus stops,” Indy Star says.
We will keep these families in our prayers. Hopefully this story will serve as a harrowing reminder — stay alert when on the road. It only takes a few seconds for a deathly and unnecessary accident to occur.
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