WINCHESTER, Ky. — A community in central Kentucky continues to mourn the loss of a high school student who was hit and killed by a school bus.
McKenna Letcher, 15, of Winchester died Tuesday morning trying to cross Veterans Memorial Parkway and Ironworks Road in Clark County.
Clark County Public Schools superintendent, Dustin Howard, addressed the tragedy at a news conference with members of the media. Howard said it has been a tragic two days and said the only way to get through it is together.
“This is a tragedy, and I cannot say it enough times. Our heart is breaking folks,” Howard said.
A cross, purple balloons and flowers now adorn the intersection of Veterans Parkway and Ironworks Road. Howard said the district has been in contact with the Letcher family, the bus driver and students on the bus involved in the crash.
“We had administrators meet them with counselors at the doors, made personal phone calls home to the nine student that were on the bus,” Howard said.
At Clark County Child Development Center, staff and some students wore purple and black in memory of Letcher. Those were her favorite colors. Owner Bo Harris said the small town of Winchester is close-knit.
“When it comes to children in our community, we all bind together and come together to support one another especially when it comes to kids,” Harris said.
Harris said Tuesday morning’s tragedy hits even closer to home for him personally.
“Where the incident happened is where I used to live right down the street, so it hit real close to home,” Harris said. “It’s something that’s very tragic and you don’t want to hear about at all.”
Howard is asking the community to lift one another up in the days ahead.
“We have to be a light in this time of darkness and although one light, one candle doesn’t burn very bright, we need everyone to support this family, our school system, students and our community,” Howard said.
The sheriff’s office says no negligence was involved in the crash but is still investigating the exact cause. School officials say the bus driver is on paid administrative leave until the conclusion of the investigation.
The Clark County Coroner told Spectrum News 1 that Letcher was a tissue donor. Her corneas were recovered and will be used for transplant patients.