By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

RESERVE — A 10-year-old girl was killed Monday morning after authorities say she tripped and fell into the path of the St. John Parish School bus that would have taken her to school.

Deputies from the St. John Sheriff’s Office said Jasmine Green, a fifth grade student at Fifth Ward Elementary School in Reserve, was transported to River Parishes Hospital in LaPlace where she succumbed to her injuries.

“Everything indicates that this was an accident,” said Maj. Mike Tregre, public information officer for the St. John Sheriff’s Office. “The bus’s warning signs and safety guard were functioning at the time of the accident.”

According to Capt. Troy Cassioppi, traffic division commander for the Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred sometime around 7:20 a.m. in the 200 block of E. 24th Street in Reserve. He said the driver, heading south on E. 24th toward River Road, had just stopped to pick up children waiting for the bus before the accident occurred.

“The victim arrived at the bus stop late,” Cassioppi said. “She was running from her house and hopped over a ditch between the house and the street. She tripped and fell between the axles of the bus.”

Cassioppi said investigators took statements from the bus driver and a neighbor, who said she witnessed the incident. He said speed was definitely not a factor in the accident because he said the driver was starting from a complete stop. He also said the driver passed a Breathalyzer test that was administered on the scene. He said all of the warning signs on the bus were working properly.

“We don’t think the driver was distracted in any way,” Cassioppi said. “The incident is still under investigation, but at this time there appears to be no sign of negligence.

Cassioppi said the driver, Josephine Washington, would not be cited in the accident. It was not known at press time how long Washington had been driving for St. John Parish.

Tregre said a handful of kids, all from Fifth Ward Elementary, were on the bus at the time of the accident. He said the kids were taken to school and grief counselors were on hand to help children deal with what had occurred.

St. John School Superintendent Dr. Courtney Millet said she had sent a letter home with all students at Fifth Ward regarding the accident that expressed prayers and sympathy for the family.

“Losing a child is a very difficult thing for any family or community to manage,” Millet said. “As educators, we know the potential and promise of all our children and the joy they bring to our world. I know Jasmine Green will be forever missed by her family, her friends, her school and her community.”

Millet said the faculty and staff at Fifth Ward is planning a school-wide memorial assembly to honor Jasmine later in the week. She said students will be allowed to drop cards and letters in the basket in front of the school before the assembly begins. These will be given to the Green family.