15-Year-Old Kentucky Girl Dies After Being Hit by School Bus: 'We Are Profoundly Sad'

The coroner's office identified the victim as George Rogers Clark High School student McKenna Letcher

<p>McKenna Letcher/Facebook</p> McKenna Letcher

McKenna Letcher/Facebook

McKenna Letcher

A high school student was fatally struck by a school bus as she attempted to cross a parkway in Winchester, Ky. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, authorities said.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, the Clark County Coroner identified the victim as 15-year-old McKenna Letcher. They also confirmed that she was “pronounced dead at the scene, as a result of injuries sustained, when she was struck by a Clark County school bus.”

Per the coroner's statement, “She was attempting to cross the Veterans Memorial Parkway near the intersection of Ironworks Road.”

Related: 5 Dead, Including 3 Preschoolers, After School Bus Collides with Semi Truck in Illinois

<p>WLKY News Louisville/YouTube</p> Scene of an accident in Winchester, Ky, on Sept. 3, 2024

WLKY News Louisville/YouTube

Scene of an accident in Winchester, Ky, on Sept. 3, 2024

In a Facebook update posted on Tuesday, the Winchester Police Department reported that the intersection was "closed for an unknown amount of time due to an injury accident," while Clark County Public Schools (CCPS) shared that it was "aware of the bus accident" and was "work[ing] through this terrible event."

PEOPLE reached out to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, Sept. 4, for additional information.

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Related: Kindergarten Student and Mom Dead After Being Struck by Bus While Walking to School

Later that same day, CCPS Superintendent Dustin Howard issued a statement on social media, saying he was “heartbroken” by the news of the incident.

Although Letcher was not mentioned by name in the statement, Howard wrote that “a CCPS bus was involved in an accident with a pedestrian this morning at the intersection of Ironworks Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway.”

“We are profoundly sad to announce that the pedestrian, a current George Rogers Clark High School student, passed away,” he continued, before asking the public to keep the student’s family, the school system and the community in their thoughts and prayers “as we work through this very difficult time.”

Related: 9-Year-Old Boy Rescued After Being Pinned Under School Bus in Washington State

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear offered his condolences via X (formerly Twitter), writing, “My heart aches for the family and friends of this precious child lost in this tragedy.”

He added, “Please join Britainy [Beshear] and me in lifting up the Clark County community in prayers of peace and comfort.”

The coroner’s office said it will investigate the accident along with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

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