CLARK COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT/Gray News) – A community in Kentucky is left grieving after a high school student was hit and killed by a school bus.
McKenna Letcher was a 15-year-old freshman at George Rogers Clark High School.
The Clark County Coroner said she was crossing Veterans Memorial Parkway Tuesday morning when she was hit by a bus.
Authorities said a number of children were on the bus at the time of the accident.
After the teen’s tragic death, community members gathered at George Rogers Clark High School to pray over the school’s grounds for all who are hurting.
When parent Jess Toews found out, she said her first thought was to call her own loved ones.
“I know a lot of people that run down the road in that area. I actually live on that side of town,” she said.
With two children of her own attending George Rogers Clark High, her focus turned toward how she could help a community in need of comfort.
“There’s a verse in the Bible, and it says, ‘Don’t just love with words and speech, love with action and truth,’” Toews said.
She sent out a Facebook post telling people to join her in prayer at the high school.
They did by the dozens, and some put anointing oil on the building while others spread their blessings verbally.
Craig Mayer brought his teenage group from Calvary Christian Church to worship as some of them grieved the sudden loss of their classmate.
“She was just in the beginning of her life, just experiencing the joys of life, so it’s a very sad situation,” Mayer said.
The community said it hopes gathering’s like these will allow God’s light to shine down on everyone affected at the school.
“It really makes my heart glad that so many people in such a short time can gather in a situation like this,” Mayer said.
Officials are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.
School officials said the bus driver has been placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation is concluded.
A GoFundMe has been established to help cover Letcher’s funeral costs.
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