ROCHESTER, Ind. (WDRB) -- Three children hit and killed waiting for a school bus in northern Indiana were all from the same family. A fourth child was seriously injured.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Tony Slocum says the accident happened about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday on North State Road 25 near Rochester in Fulton County.
Police say 9-year-old Alivia Stahl and her twin 6-year-old brothers, Xzavier and Mason Ingle, were killed when a pickup truck struck them, as they were crossing a road to board a school bus.
An unrelated 11-year-old boy, Maverik Lowe, suffered multiple broken bones. Slocum says that boy was conscious and speaking to emergency workers before he was airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital for surgery.
Fox 59 reports that the bus driver put the "stop" arm down and the four children were boarding the bus, when a truck going the opposite direction hit them. No other students were on the bus.
The pickup's driver was identified as 24-year-old Alyssa Shepherd, stayed at the scene. Shepherd, of Rochester, was arrested Tuesday and faces three felony counts of reckless homicide and a misdemeanor charge of passing a school bus causing injury.
The Tippacanoe Valley School Corporation posted a message on Facebook about the deaths of the three children asking for prayers for the students and their families.
Our school corporation has suffered a tragedy this morning. We have learned of three student fatalities and one student seriously injured and airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital as they were hit by a vehicle while boarding their bus.
We have deployed all school counselors to meet the emotional needs of our staff, students and parents.
We are awaiting to learn more confirmed details but wish to ask the community to come together to pray for the families, our students and our staff.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb released a statement expressing his condolences. "Words cannot express the depth of sorrow Janet and I feel, which only pales in comparison to what family, friends, teachers, classmates and community are feeling right now." He added, "Today, and for many more to come, we mourn their loss. I ask Hoosiers around the state to join us by sending your deepest prayers for the strength needed to endure such a time.”
Shepherd was released from jail on a $15,000 bond Tuesday night, according to Fox 59.
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