12-Year-Old Girl Killed and Another Injured After Their Motorized Scooter Crashed with School Bus

A 12-year-old girl has died after she and another child crashed into a school bus while riding together on a motorized scooter in Massachusetts, authorities said.

The tragic crash happened around 4 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at the intersection of Portland Street and 5th Avenue in Haverhill, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.

Officials said two children were riding on the same scooter when they collided with a school bus. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, and both children were taken to nearby hospitals.

One of the children, a 12-year-old girl, later died from her injuries, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Haverhill Police Chief Wayne Tracy confirmed.

The second girl involved in the crash has since been released from the hospital, according to WCVB.

Witnesses described the heartbreaking moments before and after the collision.

“It looked like they tried to hit their brakes to try to stop and like speed wobble, and they smashed right into it,” bystander Nic Mello told WCVB. “I saw them fall to the ground, the scooter got smashed. At first, I didn’t really believe it, but then I heard the girl screaming, so I started to run to her.”

One child who witnessed the crash told NBC10, “Two girls on one scooter, they just went fast and they hit the bus.”

Another young witness recalled seeing the girls under the bus “on the floor, not moving.”

Authorities have not publicly released the 12-year-old’s name. The Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Haverhill Police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are continuing to investigate what led to the crash.

After the tragedy, Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta sent a letter to district staff, saying the loss had shaken the entire school community.

“Our hearts are with the student’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone affected by this unimaginable loss,” Marotta wrote, according to NBC10 and WCVB. “We also keep the other student involved in our thoughts and wish them strength and healing.”

She added that many in the district were grieving alongside students and families.

“Whether you knew this student personally or are simply feeling the weight of this tragedy, please know that your feelings are valid,” Marotta wrote.

Marotta also used the moment to warn families about the dangers of electric and motorized scooters, especially for younger riders.

“While these vehicles are widely available and, in many cases, unregulated, they can pose very real dangers — especially for young adolescents who may not yet have the experience, judgment or understanding of traffic laws needed to operate them safely,” she wrote.

She noted that many young people ride friends’ scooters or ride together without realizing how dangerous it can be.

“These conversations could save a life,” Marotta said.

Haverhill Public Schools is offering drop-in grief counseling at J.G. Whittier Middle School for students, families and staff who need support following the tragedy.