Second-grader in Lakeville killed in school bus accident

LAKEVILLE (AP) -- A 7-year-old girl may have been running to board a school bus when she was struck and killed in the school parking lot, police said.

Tara Bates, a second-grader at Cherry View Elementary School, was hit at about 3:20 p.m. Wednesday. School staff, police and paramedics tried to revive her, but she was declared dead at Hennepin County Medical Center a short time later.

''We have not firmly established yet whether she fell or how the accident actually occurred, but we do know based on preliminary indications that she was running after the bus,'' said Sgt. Steve Strachan of the Lakeville Police Department.

''It just looks like an unfortunate accident,'' Strachan said. Police think the girl fell under a back wheel of the bus, he said.

The bus driver, whose name was not released, was described as a man in his 30s who has been driving bus for 1 1/2 years and also is a substitute teacher.

Strachan also said an investigation showed the bus had no malfunctions.