Cumberland County Sheriffs Office Releases Name Of Child Killed In Standish School Bus Accident And The Driver

While authorities have yet to release many details surrounding the tragic death of an elementary school student, who was hit by a school bus and killed on the morning of Tuesday, December 16th, they are now naming the child and the driver of the bus.

Read More: Standish Community Mourns Loss Of Elementary Student Hit By Bus

According to the southern Maine television station, WGME, the boy died just blocks from the school the child attended, the Edna Libby Elementary School.

"The Cumberland County Sheriff’s office confirms the victim who died is a 5-year-old kindergartener named Simon Gonzalez. Investigators also confirm the bus belongs to the Bonny Eagle school district and that one other student was on board at the time of the accident."

Meanwhile, WABI TV says authorities have also released the name of the person driving the vehicle who killed Gonzolez.

"The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office says the driver of the MSAD 6 bus was 64-year-old Lori Ann Merrifield."

Authorities say the investigation into the events surrounding the tragedy is still very much active.

According to WMTW, Maine's Senator James Libby has been in contact with the National Transportation Safety Board, and plans are moving forward for them to join in the inquiry into how the boy died.

"In a release from the Maine Senate Republicans Office, Libby said the NTSB told him a preliminary report would likely be available within a few weeks, while a complete investigation will likely take 12 to 18 months."

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Tuesdays accident is the second fatal incident involving a student and a school bus.

12-year-old Brayden Callahan died of injuries he sustained after being struck by a bus on November 21st.

We will update the story when more information becomes available.

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