6-YO Rolled Underneath School Bus & Was Run Over After He Accidentally Put Go Kart in Reverse

A school bus ran over a 6-year-old boy who was riding a go-kart down a neighbored street in Columbia County. Rescue crews were called to the scene immediately after the incident took place. The child is now recovering, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The accident took place when the boy mistakenly put the go-kart in reverse and rolled underneath the bus as the driver stopped to drop a few students off. The driver did not see the boy roll underneath the bus as the other students were exiting and began to drive the bus. The boy was under his dad's supervision when the terrifying accident took place, according to WSB-TV News. Fortunately, the young child is in stable condition and no charges are being filed against anyone at this time. The Augusta Press reported the incident took place at Grand Park in Augusta. The child and his father's identity has not yet been revealed.

The boy's story is a rare occurrence as not many other children have been as lucky to survive. In 2020, a year-old named Maryana Kranz, 6 was hit by a vehicle while boarding her school bus in February on Hwy. 73 in Plainfield. The crash left the 6-year-old girl dead and her 4-year-old sister injured. Hannah Kranz, 4, suffered a concussion but survived the crash. The girls were students at the Tri-County Area School District. 76-year-old Carl Mullenix of Plainfield was the driver who allegedly drove around the right side of a bus and struck the children, reports the Wausau Pilot and Review. Court records showed Mullenix also faces several traffic citations that were filed in June. These include unsafe passing on the right, inattentive driving, failure to stop for an unloading school bus, and improper passing of a school bus.

According to FOX 11 News,  criminal charges were later dropped in the case due to the man's mental health. His lawyer had informed the court that he had concerns about Mullenix’s ability to understand the proceedings and assist in his own defense. Judge Guy Dutcher ruled “the defendant is not competent to proceed and not likely to regain competency. The Court enters an order of dismissal based on the findings,” court records stated. A civil wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the girl’s family. The attorney for Mullenix’s insurance company mentioned that a settlement was likely during a status conference.

References:

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/6-year-old-riding-go-kart-georgia-neighborhood-run-over-by-school-bus/

https://fox11online.com/news/local/carl-mullenix-maryana-kranz-civil-lawsuit-settlement-fatal-school-bus-crash-closer-to-being-finalized

Representational Cover Image Source: Getty images | Marilyn Nieves