A five-year-old boy has died after being hit by a school bus near his elementary school in Maine, in a tragic incident that has devastated a local community.
Tragic Details of the Standish Incident
Simon Gonzalez was struck and killed just before 8am on Tuesday near 437 North East Road in Standish, a small town approximately two hours north of Boston. Authorities from the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office confirmed the young boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
The school bus involved was operated by the Bonny Eagle School District, also known as Maine's sixth school administrative district. In a heartbreaking detail, officials revealed the bus was carrying only one other student at the time of the collision – Simon's own half-brother.
The driver has been identified as Lori Ann Merrifield, 64. As of Wednesday, no charges have been filed against her. The school district had previously honoured Merrifield in a Facebook post last May for her "remarkable 25 years of service."
Community in Mourning and School Response
The fatal crash occurred less than half a mile from Edna Libby Elementary School, which Simon attended. In response to the tragedy, school officials dismissed students early at 11:30am on Tuesday and cancelled all classes on Wednesday. Students were scheduled to return on Thursday.
District Superintendent Clay Gleason issued a statement urging the community to keep those directly affected in their thoughts, particularly Simon's family. "The Bonny Eagle community has been deeply impacted by this tragedy and while we can't change the past, we must move forward together," Gleason said.
He added that it is standard protocol for any employee to be placed on administrative leave while an investigation is underway, though he could not share specifics related to this case.
Family Grief and Ongoing Investigation
Simon's grandfather, Jason Small, told local broadcaster WMTW that the boy "loved life" and "just loved to be on the go." Small added, "Our family has been devastated by this loss. He was and always will be extremely loved and missed by his whole family and everyone that knew him."
The boy's father, Wes Pipes, expressed his anguish on Facebook, writing: "I love you so f***ing much I wish I could see you one more time. This world f***ing sucks. You were my f***ing only hope left…i was working so hard for a better life for us…"
Simon's grandmother, Heidi Roakes Small, posted: "This boy was the light of my life. He brought joy to everyone who knew this boy."
A GoFundMe fundraiser organised by a family friend, Taylor Lien, stated Simon's parents were "unprepared for this tragedy and will need all the help they can get." The campaign had raised nearly $52,000 by Thursday afternoon, surpassing its original $40,000 goal.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office described the investigation as a "complex criminal investigation" with "many layers" involving various partners. Authorities have asked for public patience as the process continues.
According to data from Maine's Department of Transportation, more than 1,135 school bus crashes have occurred in the state since the start of 2015, with 92 recorded so far this year. The Bonny Eagle School District operates the largest public sector bus fleet in Maine.
