Teen Hit, Killed By School Bus Near McKeesport Middle School
McKEESPORT (KDKA) – Grief counselors will be available for both students and teachers Friday at McKeesport Area High School after a 15-year-old boy was struck and killed by a school bus while crossing the street.
It happened around 2:40 p.m. Thursday at Eden Park and Oneil Boulevards, outside of McKeesport Middle School.
The victim, 15-year-old Deonte Cobbs, a sophomore, was struck just moments after classes had been dismissed for the day. He was crossing the busy road, about 50 or so feet from a crosswalk.
He died of his injuries at UPMC McKeesport Hospital.
Autumn Snyder, a sophomore, said, "Deonte was really nice. He was friends with a lot of people. I don't think there was anybody who didn't like him."
Edward Herriott was shopping at the nearby Giant Eagle when he looked and saw a commotion at the top of the hill.
He ran over and told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti, "I saw a fella on the ground, he wasn't moving. He was on the sidewalk, friends were all around him, and one friend was embracing him, holding him."
Herriott wanted to put the boy in his car, and take him to the hospital, but within moments, police and paramedics arrived on scene.
In March of last year, a 14-year-old girl died after she was struck in nearly the same spot by a dump truck.
Parents say more needs to be done to protect students in the area.
Kristina Smith said, "It's horrible that another family has to go through this. My heart goes out to the family. To lose a child because of no crossing guards, it's just insane."
The McKeesport School District did release a statement Thursday evening, reading in part:
"There are no words that can describe how devastated we are at the passing of one of our students. Unspeakable tragedies such as this are something that stay with us forever. We have been working over the past two years with PennDOT and the city of McKeesport to make the area around our campus safer."
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