Boy, 7, Dies After Struck By School Bus: Park Forest Police

PARK FOREST, IL — A 7-year-old boy died Friday, after being hit by a school bus in Park Forest, police said Friday evening.

The child was struck just after 3 p.m., in the 100 block of Walnut Street, police said. The child "was seriously injured and life-saving measures were immediately started by family" until police and medics arrived. The child was taken to Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Hospital, where he later died.

The bus involved is owned by Kickert Bus Company and was transporting students from Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163 at the time of the incident.

School District 163 and the Park Forest Police Department are arranging for counselors to be available both over the weekend and at the start of the school week next Monday to provide services to students and staff, Park Forest police said.

The driver of the bus and any witnesses are being interviewed by Park Forest Police investigators. It was not known as of Friday evening if any charges will be filed in relation to the crash. The incident under investigation by the Park Forest Police Department and the South Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team (SMART).

Anyone with information is urged to call the Park Forest Police Investigations Division at 708-748-1309.