SPRINGTOWN (CBS 11 NEWS) – The school bus driver who hit and killed 10 year-old Haven Norton in what authorities say appears to be a tragic accident has been placed on leave as the investigation continues. The driver has a clean record according to school officials and is reportedly grief stricken over the accident.
Children brought toys and tokens of love Monday night to a growing makeshift memorial at the site where Norton died. Parents say what happened there could have also happened to their kids.
“My kids sometimes run toward the bus,” said neighbor Francisco Avilla.
Haven was running toward his bus on a rural road near Springtown when he fell in its path and was run over. Witnesses say his mother watched it happen.
“Heard the mother next door screaming ‘Stop, Stop Stop!’ I looked over…and the bus had run over. I saw the bus run over her son,” said neighbor Danny Smith.
Danny Smith says he tried to save the boy who the bus driver apparently didn’t see and pulled away when haven tripped and fell.
“I got over there and I knelt down and I couldn’t do anything. He was gone,” Smith said.
At Springtown Elementary, students were told their classmates who loved his bicycle and horses would not be coming back.
