Bates had gotten off her school bus at the stop inside the resort shortly before being hit.
Safford Police Chief John Griffin said officers were dispatched to Sunrise Village at 4:05 p.m.
 Elizabeth Bates, 8, was struck and killed by a truck on her way home from the bus stop at Sunrise Village on Tuesday. Contributed photo |
“It’s just pure tragedy,” he said. “We think this was purely accidental. We had a little 8-year-old girl that made an 8-year-old decision that was catastrophic for everybody involved.”
A helicopter was called to airlift Bates to a hospital in Tucson, but it was determined that she needed immediate attention and was taken to the Mount Graham Regional Medical Center. She was pronounced dead at the center at 5:01 p.m.
Griffin said, due to his office’s preliminary investigation findings, it appeared that she attempted to cross the street behind the bus after it was pulling away from the bus stop. A white work truck had stopped for the bus at a stop sign facing south but began to head west after the bus turned off its flashing red lights and began heading east inside Sunrise Village, which is located at 900 E. Hollywood Road.
According to Griffin, after going over a speed bump as the two vehicles passed each other, the truck emerged from the other side of the school bus and struck Bates. Griffin said there appeared to be no way the truck or Bates could have seen each other.
Griffin estimated the driver’s speed to be about 5 mph and that he said he never even saw the girl. The driver was not given any citations at this time.
Safford Superintendent Mark Tregaskes said the district was saddened by what happened and that their concerns go to the family and those involved.
He said upon learning the news, he initiated a telephone calling tree and brought together a crisis response team.
They then put together a plan to communicate what happened and to see how to meet the needs of the students and staff. He said the district will provide counseling for any who may need it.
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9 comment(s)HER MOTHER wrote on Mar 27, 2009 9:53 AM:
Aunt Darlene wrote on Dec 4, 2008 9:16 PM:
Love and kisses Elizabeth
Aunt Darlene
Texas "
Rob wrote on Dec 4, 2008 1:04 PM:
teresa rucker wrote on Nov 7, 2008 7:58 PM:
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