KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ) – The Outagamie County Coroner’s Office has released the name of the 12-year-old boy who was killed Tuesday afternoon in Kaukauna.
Justin Johnson died after he was struck by a school bus while walking home from River View Middle School.
Officials say the boy was hit while crossing Second Street as the bus was turning onto the street from Crooks Avenue. The tragedy happening on the first day of school in Kaukauna.
“It’s a parent’s worst nightmare,” said Lt. Jamie Graff with the Kaukauna Police Department. “He was just a pedestrian walking.”
Miranda Casey’s 7-year-old son was among the students on the bus that hit the boy.
“They knew something was going on because their bus stopped and they could see police cars coming up behind them,” Casey told FOX 11. “I don’t think at first they knew what was happening.”
The students on the bus had to wait briefly before a different bus came to bring them home.
“They were pretty shaken,” said Casey. “They all kind of ran off and ran up to their parents, telling them what happened. A lot of the little ones were crying.”
Just after the crash, police were in the process of interviewing several witnesses, including the driver of the bus.
“We have the state patrol helping us reenact the scene, trying to put some pieces together as to what actually happened,” said Graff.
“I don’t know if the bus driver wasn’t watching or if the kid ran across the street, not that it makes it any less tragic, but it would be helpful to know as my kids are riding the buses too,” said Casey.
Casey says the bus driver is the same one who drove her child all of last year.
Kaukauna’s superintendent, Mark Duerwaecther, has sent out a message to parents about the tragedy:
“The Kaukauna Area School District is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our student, son, grandson, brother and friend, and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends. Our focus right now is on supporting those close to the student, and our trauma team is working diligently to prepare support for students and staff. Counselors, psychologists and social workers will be on hand at each of our schools for as long as needed. Please join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to his family.”
(Additional reporting by WTAQ’s Melissa Barclay)
