Williamsburg, KY : 10-year-old Jonathan A. Chatham hit and killed by school bus in Whitley County on Monday afternoon, March 23, 2015

A 10-year-old boy was killed Monday afternoon after being hit by a school bus in Whitley County, Kentucky.

Kentucky State Police say Jonathan A. Chatham, 10, was hit by a school bus driven by Amanda Woliver, 33. They say the bus had stopped along Highway 779 to let four students off when the boy was hit.

A statement from Whitley County Schools says school officials were told by witnesses that Chatham had exited the bus, walked up the bank on the side of the road, and then re-entered the path of the bus as it began moving forward.

Chatham was pronounced dead at the scene. Police and school officials say the bus, #993, was coming from Whitley North Elementary School where Chatham attended fourth grade.

Twenty other students were on the bus. Their parents were notified and another bus was sent to the scene to take children home whose parents were unable to pick them up.

Several school officials and grief counselors were also on the scene.

“For the most part here, we’re dealing with a horrible accident. Just a serious and bad tragedy for everyone involved,” said Officer Steven Douglas.

“It just saddens me,” said Rockholds resident Karla Lambdin. “It breaks my heart that this has happened.”

Lambdin has lived in the Rockholds area for more than 20 years. She says nothing like this has happened before.

“I couldn’t even fathom anything happening to my son or daughter and I have a grandchild now. I really, really, feel for the family,” she said.

Police are still investigating and no charges have been made at this time. Drugs and alcohol are not suspected in the crash.

Whitley County Schools are also conducting an independent investigation.

Lambdin says this incident has made her more cautious.

“When I go out on the road, I’m going to be looking both ways. I’m going to be extremely careful,” she said.

Lambdin says the small farming community is just starting to feel the impact of this horrible situation.

Source :
10-year-old hit and killed by school bus in Whitley County