GRAY, Maine — A 13-year-old child is hospitalized after being struck by a tractor-trailer truck while getting off a Gray-New Gloucester school bus Tuesday afternoon.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m., the student was reportedly crossing in front of the bus at their regular bus stop on Lewiston Road when they were struck, a news release from the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said.
Both vehicles were traveling northbound from Gray toward New Gloucester at the time of the crash, the sheriff's office said. It happened in the area of 135 Lewiston Road.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they found the child semi-conscious. The child was taken to Maine Medical Center with "substantial injuries," according to the release.
A letter to the MSAD 15 community issued by Superintendent Craig King said the bus itself was not involved in the incident, and the remaining students on the bus were not injured.
King said the bus was stopped with its flashing lights on and flashing "STOP" arm engaged.
"The remaining students on the bus were evacuated accompanied by MSAD 15 staff," King said in the letter. "These students were transported back to Gray-New Gloucester High School where they were met by school counselors and social workers and were reunited with their families."
King added school counselors and social workers will be available at the middle school, high school, and transportation department Wednesday morning to support students and staff.
Following the incident Tuesday afternoon, Lewiston Road from New Gloucester was closed to southbound traffic. Traffic was diverted to Weymouth Road, and Lewiston Road was shut down at Gray Square to northbound traffic, the Cumberland County Regional Communications Center said in a release.
According to deputies, the tractor-trailer is owned by Bard Trucking out of Farmington.
The crash remains under investigation.
No additional information has been released.