Young student killed in 'tragic' Sussex accident, parents frustrated with busing process

SUSSEX, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A young student in Sussex died in an accident involving a school bus Thursday, Jan. 2. Family identified the child as 5-year-old Finn Katona. 

Authorities were called to Silver Spring Intermediate School, located at 22350 Silver Spring Drive, just before 8:40 a.m.

Police tape surrounded two school buses while authorities responded. 

According to an email sent to families in the Hamilton School District, the student involved was a 4K student who was transferring to a shuttle bus to be taken to Willow Springs Learning Center, which is five minutes away.

 

Parent Waleed Edoud's son told him he saw it happen. Edoud told us, "It just missed him, he said. He kicked the bus out of anger, and he said he saw a kid on the floor full of blood."

Robert Hildebrandt's daughter was also impacted. "We're not sure what she saw or if it was somebody in her class."

Every morning, all students ride their buses to Silver Spring Intermediate. Then Willow Springs students get off their buses and onto a different shuttle bus.

Parents say there have long been concerns about that transfer process.

The pre-K students were transferring from the large buses to a shuttle bus that would take them on to Willow Springs Learning Center.

The transfers happen every morning, meaning students leave one bus to walk through the parking lot to another.

A bus procedures page on the Willow Springs website says, "Willow students will be escorted by staff and older student bus buddies to the shuttle bus."

It's not clear if escorts were present Thursday.

The Waukesha County Sheriff's Office says the bus was carrying students when the incident occurred. 

The Hamilton School District did not respond to questions. A statement from the district said in part, "Out of respect for the family, we are not sharing additional information at this time."

Parents say there have been concerns with the bus company, Dairyland-Hamilton, for a while.

Robert Hildebrandt said, "Not so much the school. The bus company has been having issues."

And Waleed Edoud said, "It's this bus company. They need to sever ties."

More parents vented on social media, saying, "I'll be driving [my child] to school until something changes."

A receptionist for the Dairyland-Hamilton bus company told us over the phone, "We have no comment."

A statement from the company was later issued that said: 

"We offer our deepest condolences to the student’s family, friends, and the Hamilton School community. Dairyland-Hamilton is fully cooperating with local authorities as they investigate this tragic accident, and we are in ongoing communication with our District partners."

A Waukesha County sheriff's lieutenant said the bus driver is cooperating with the investigation, but did not say anything about possible criminal charges.

In the meantime, parents are exploring other options.

Edoud told us, "We're going to come up with a plan to not put our kids on this bus anymore. Until something is corrected."

The Hamilton School District's student services team immediately started working with students and staff, and the county made professionals available to parents Thursday.

All classes are canceled Friday throughout the district.