Virginia

Virginia School Bus Driver Hit, Killed in Bus Parking Lot

A school bus driver in Prince William County, Virginia, died after he was hit by a bus Monday morning at the public school system's transportation center. 

Richard Lee Proffitt, 62, of Manassas, died after the driver of another school bus backed up and struck him, Prince William County police said. 

Proffitt had been standing behind the bus, police said. No children were on the bus at the time. 

Police responded to the McCuin Transportation Center in Bristow about 7:30 a.m. Proffitt was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The other driver, a 60-year-old man, was not hurt. Charges have not been filed at this time, according to police. The investigation into the crash is ongoing. 

"It is a terrible day, and the individuals here have lost a friend, a colleague and, really, a member of the family in some ways," said Phil Kavits, Prince William County Schools associate superintendent.

Proffitt's wife and daughter also are school bus drivers and pick up their buses at a different lot. Counselors were sent to the transportation center and the schools where Proffitt delivered and picked up students.

Police continue to investigate how and why this happened. A school spokesman said it is too early to know if safety procedures at the bus lot need to be tightened up.

The regular school buses do not have backup cameras, like those found in personal vehicles. The small, van-type buses do have the cameras.

A GoFundMe page has been established for the victim's family.

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