9-Year-Old Dies After Getting Hit By School Bus In Bethesda: Cops

BETHESDA, MD — A 9-year-old girl who was hit by a Montgomery County Public Schools bus Thursday afternoon has died, according to authorities.

Montgomery County police have not disclosed the child's identity; but Montgomery County Public Schools has confirmed that she was a fourth grade student at Bradley Hills Elementary School.

The incident happened at the intersection of Tanglewood Drive and Millwood Road in Bethesda around 3:48 p.m.

A preliminary police investigation revealed that the school bus — driven by Serigne Makhtar Ndiaye, 53, of Severn — had turned right onto Millwood Road from Tanglewood Drive after unloading several students, including the 9-year-old, at the intersection. There are no sidewalks at that bus stop.

For reasons still under investigation, police said the girl was struck by the bus. Ndiaye and the other students were not injured.

Authorities say the 9-year old was rushed to Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., in critical condition. She died later that night.

Bradley Hills Principal Karen Caroscio sent a letter to parents Thursday evening, notifying them of the incident and offering students mental health resources.

"It is very difficult to face the loss of a young person. Counselors, school psychologists, and pupil personnel workers will be available to provide support to students and staff starting tomorrow, Dec. 13, and throughout next week," Caroscio wrote.

In order to be a bus driver, according to an MCPS job posting, an applicant must be at least 21 years old, have a clean driving history, no more than one current point on their license, and possession of or the ability to get a Maryland Class B Commercial Driver's License with air brakes, school bus and passenger endorsements, or the equivalent within the time frame mandated by the pre-service training program.

Ndiaye does not appear to have any outstanding traffic violations as of Friday morning, court records reveal.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating this incident. Anyone with information should call detectives at 240-773-6620.