Boy Identified Who Died After Crawling Under FL School Bus: Reports

Updated at 10:21 a.m. Thursday

ORLANDO — A 9-year-old boy who died when he crawled under an Orange County school bus Tuesday and was run over has been identified, according to media reports.

Elyas Marshall-Rodriguez had gotten off the bus at an Island Bay Drive apartment complex, where he double backed and crawled under the bus to retrieve a football, the New York Post reported.

As the bus moved forward, its back-right tire hit the boy. He was pronounced dead at the scene, USA Today reported.

The boy’s cousin said Marshall-Rodriguez was in remission after being diagnosed with leukemia at age two, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

“He had already been through a lot in his life, so for this to happen is like a spine lodged in our hearts,” Trenae Gayle told the newspaper.

Orange County Public Schools sent WFTV 9 the following statement:

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of one of our precious students who was involved in a bus accident late this afternoon. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the student’s family and school community. To lose a child so suddenly and tragically is extremely difficult especially for family and friends. We will have counselors available for any student or staff member dealing with the news. Please know that OCPS is fully cooperating with the ongoing Florida Highway Patrol investigation but we ask that you keep the entire Lawton Chiles Elementary School community in your prayers as they grieve the loss of one of their own.”

Read more via USA Today and WFTV 9.