Boy Hit, Killed By Bus Had 'Biggest Smile'

CARY, IL — A 3-year-old boy hit and killed by a bus while he rode a toy in the street Monday has been identified as Samuel Huddleston.

The McHenry County Coroner's Office determined multiple blunt force injuries caused Huddleston's death, according to preliminary findings from an autopsy. The boy was hit by a school bus at about 3:40 p.m. in in the area of Cherry and Hills streets in Cary and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Samuel had five siblings and is being remembered for having "the biggest smile," according to his obituary.

"With four older brothers and a younger sister, he could run and chase the big boys but take time to snuggle with his sister. Although the youngest brother, he was always helping and watching out for them, often keeping them out of trouble," according to his obituary.

He also loved getting outdoors, camping, fishing, playing at the park and going on walks with neighbors. His cowboy boots were his "prized possession," and he wanted to be "a daddy" when he grew up.

A memorial visitation is set for 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. A funeral service will begin at 4 p.m.

Bus Driver On Paid Administrative Leave

The bus driver who hit Huddleston has been placed on paid administrative leave. The driver, who has not been identified, works for District 47 and District 155 and will remain on paid administrative leave as an investigation continues into the incident, according to a joint statement from both districts.

The driver "completed post-accident testing," according to the statement. Any employee involved in an accident while working must undergo testing, which includes submitting to a substance abuse test.

"Substance abuse tests may involve the examination of the employee’s breath, blood, hair, or urine for the purpose of determining the presence of alcohol or other drugs in the employee’s system that may have contributed to the accident,"according to District 47's policy on post-accident investigations.

The results of these examinations could result in the employee being fired, according to the district policy.

On Wednesday, authorities said drugs and alcohol did not appear to be a factor. Cary Deputy Police Chief Scott Naydenoff said it also did not appear the bus driver was speeding at the time of the incident.

Counseling services are being offered to the driver and all employees of the Transportation Joint Agreement, the bus service used by districts 47 and 155. TJA has 125 school buses, 161 employees and transports about 10,000 students per day.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and our thoughts are with the family. We are cooperating with local officials investigating the accident," school officials said in the joint statement.

A student on the bus, which was a District 47/District 155 school bus, and the driver were not injured, according to police. No one has been arrested in connection with the collision, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.