9-Year-Old Girl Dragged, Killed by School Bus in Plainfield, Massachusetts

A 9-year-old girl is dead after being dragged and hit by a school bus Friday afternoon in Plainfield, Massachusetts.

State police confirm the bus stopped to let the child off around 4 p.m. on South Central Street. Following a preliminary investigation, police believe the door closed while she was exiting. She was caught in the door, and the bus dragged her a short distance, then hit her.

The bus driver stopped at the scene, but it was too late.

The girl, who was identified as Summer Steele, was a student of Sanderson Academy in Plainfield.

Authorities said Steele was transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield where she was pronounced dead.

The bus driver was interviewed by police.

The bus company, FM Kuzmeskus Inc. of Gill, Massachusetts, released a statement on Saturday:

"Regrettably, the accident has taken the life of one of the students. We are greatly saddened by this tragedy and offer our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family.

We pledge our assistance in working and cooperating with state and local authorities. We have also been in contact with school officials to apprise them of the situation.

While we cannot change what happened, we are deeply grieved for this tragic loss of life."

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