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SOUTH JORDAN — The girl who was hit by a school bus Wednesday remained in extremely critical condition Thursday.
Police corrected previously released information Thursday and confirmed the girl is 10 years old and attended Welby Elementary School.
She had just gotten off a school bus on 4000 West near 10600 South, ran around the front of the bus and attempted to cross 4000 West. She darted out in front of a second school bus that was traveling the same direction as the one that had just pulled off onto the shoulder to drop off children, South Jordan Police Sgt. Sam Winkler said.
Police are looking at several factors while investigating the accident, Winkler said, including whether the first school bus had its flashing red lights on and the stop sign on the side of the bus open, signaling to all other traffic to stop. Detectives will also be reviewing the Jordan School District's policies for bus drivers.
Winkler said the bus was equipped with a video system to record students inside the vehicle. Police will be reviewing that recording, he said.
"We're hoping for the best," Winkler said of the young girl's condition. "It's a very tragic situation."
Grief counselors were at Welby Elementary on Thursday to assist students who needed help.
Neighbors are frustrated, saying they have warned Jordan School District for years that 4000 West is too dangerous for children to be let off a school bus.
"The conversation has always been it's not a mater of if, but when this was going to happen, and it's just sad it really did," said neighbor Rich Parkinson.
"We want the district to be able to find a place where these kids can get on and off a bus safely."
Jordan School District spokesperson Sandy Riesgraf confirmed the district has talked to parents in the past about 4000 West. However, the neighborhood where the girl and many other children live is a private neighborhood, and the Utah Department of Transportation code states that school buses can only drive on public roads.
"Those private roads are narrower than the public roads are," Riesgraf said. "We have no assurances those roads can withstand the weight of a school bus. We can't maneuver our long school buses in and out of those developments."
The accident is still being investigated. Once the investigation ends, the school district is confident they will know how to move forward.
A vigil for the young girl is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 3760 W. Rushton View Drive (10885 South).
