Clark County Schools ‘heartbroken’ after 15-year-old girl dies in school bus accident

CLARK COUNTY, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — A 15-year-old girl has died after an accident involving a school bus on Tuesday in Clark County.

Around 7:30 a.m., the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said there was a crash with an injury at Iron Works Road that closed all northbound lanes for around an hour.

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Clark County Public Schools posted on Facebook around 9 a.m. to ask for prayers for those involved and described the accident as a “terrible event.”

According to Clark County Coroner Neal Oliver, 15-year-old McKenna Letcher was crossing the road at Veteran’s Memorial Parkway when she was hit by a Clark County school bus. Due to her injuries, McKenna was pronounced dead on the scene.

McKenna was a student at George Rogers Clark High School, according to Superintendent Dustin Howard.

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Howard sent the following letter to families and staff.

Dear Clark County Public Schools Families,

The Clark County Public Schools family is heartbroken today. A CCPS bus was involved in an accident with a pedestrian this morning at the intersection of Ironworks Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway. We are profoundly sad to announce that the pedestrian, a current George Rogers Clark High School student, has passed away.

A team of pastoral staff, grief counselors, and other mental health support staff are avilible at GRC and all other schools today and for as long as needed. Should you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us. Please keep the student’s family, along with the entirety of our school system and community, in your thoughts and prayers as we work through this very difficult time.

Superintendent Dustin Howard

Gov. Andy Beshear took to social media to mourn the loss of McKenna as well.

“My heart aches for the family and friends of this precious child lost in this tragedy,” wrote Beshear.

Numerous school districts asked for people to wear black and purple for McKenna.

Madylin Goins contributed to this story.

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