Simon Gonzalez dies in fatal Standish, Maine school bus crash

Simon Gonzalez dies in fatal Standish, Maine school bus crash
Fatal Standish, Maine school bus crash death of Simon Gonzalez – Obituary

Authorities have released new details surrounding the death of Simon Gonzalez, a 5-year-old kindergarten student who was killed in a tragic school bus incident in Standish last month.

According to a preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, Simon Gonzalez died on the morning of Dec. 16 while attempting to board a school bus along Route 35. Investigators said Simon approached the bus from the right rear side, and as he tried to get on, the bus doors closed on his arm.

The report states that when the bus began to move, Simon was dragged nearly 300 feet before falling onto the roadway, where he was struck by the bus. He was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries.

Simon Gonzalez attended Edna Libby Elementary School in the Bonny Eagle School District. Family members and loved ones described him as a joyful and loving child who cherished his family and had a fondness for the color yellow.

His death occurred just weeks after another Maine student was killed in a separate school bus incident, drawing increased attention to student transportation safety across the state.

The school bus driver, identified as 64-year-old Lori Ann Merrifield, has not been charged, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. Officials stated that the investigation remains ongoing and no final conclusions have been reached.

The NTSB noted that a comprehensive final report may take more than a year to complete and is expected to include additional analysis and safety recommendations.

State transportation officials say fatal school bus boarding or exiting incidents involving children are extremely rare in Maine, with only a handful recorded over the past several decades. In response to the recent tragedies, state lawmakers have begun discussions on proposed legislation aimed at increasing school bus safety measures statewide.