'I wish he could come back down': Shock, grief after first grader hit, killed by bus Hearts ache in the Rumford community after a 6-year-old boy was hit and killed by a school bus on Wednesday while riding his bicycle.Friends of Jayce Holt said they had a hard time at school without their friend.Brothers Tristan and Joshua Kinzel said they would often ride bikes with Jayce.Tristan left a stack of Pokemon cards at the growing memorial for Jayce to remember his friend. "I would say I miss you very much, and I love you," Tristan said. "I wish he would come back down to us. I wish he could come back down," Joshua said.Grief counselors were at the elementary school Jayce attended to help students.Damien Amburg said it was difficult to hear school staff talk about what happened to his friend. "It was kind of scary also, because he was just a first grader. He didn't deserve to go that bad," Damien said.The boys also added a wrestling action figure to the memorial because it was something Jayce loved to watch. Hearts ache in the Rumford community after a 6-year-old boy was hit and killed by a school bus on Wednesday while riding his bicycle. Friends of Jayce Holt said they had a hard time at school without their friend. Advertisement Brothers Tristan and Joshua Kinzel said they would often ride bikes with Jayce. Tristan left a stack of Pokemon cards at the growing memorial for Jayce to remember his friend. "I would say I miss you very much, and I love you," Tristan said. "I wish he would come back down to us. I wish he could come back down," Joshua said. Grief counselors were at the elementary school Jayce attended to help students. Damien Amburg said it was difficult to hear school staff talk about what happened to his friend. "It was kind of scary also, because he was just a first grader. He didn't deserve to go that bad," Damien said. The boys also added a wrestling action figure to the memorial because it was something Jayce loved to watch.<doc-sep>Jayce Holt was struck by the rear tire of an RSU 10 bus after falling off his bicycle and into the road, police said. RUMFORD, Maine — A 6-year-old boy died Wednesday after he fell off his bicycle into the road and was hit by a school bus in Rumford. Authorities on Thursday identified the child as Jayce Holt. They said he was pronounced dead at Rumford Community Hospital. In a release to parents Wednesday, RSU 10 school officials confirmed the first-grader died as a result of the incident involving the bus. "This afternoon a first grader at Rumford Elementary School was in an accident involving one of our busses. Tragically, the student has passed away," the statement read. "Our entire RSU #10 community is grieving this loss." The school district said it would have counselors available at its Mountain Valley Schools on Thursday. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family," RSU 10 said. "This tragedy is far reaching throughout our communities." Police said the crash happened shortly after 3 p.m. along Waldo Street, which is less than two blocks from a nearby elementary school. According to police, Jayce was riding his bicycle north on the west-side sidewalk of Waldo Street and came off into the intersection at Essex Avenue. When Jayce attempted to brake, police said he and the bicycle fell into the road. Simultaneously, an RSU 10 school bus traveling north on Waldo Street turned onto Essex Avenue, where police said one of its rear tires struck the boy. Investigators believe Jayce was interacting in some way with a person on the bus while riding. They said Jayce likely did not recognize the bus was turning left off Waldo Street onto Essex Avenue until it was too late. Police said Jayce's mother was immediately on the scene. Four students were on the bus at the time of the crash, none of which were injured. Rumford resident Carol Pyatt said her grandson was one of the four students on the school bus. "[My grandson] didn't know whether to cry or what to do. He was just devastated with the whole thing," she said. "[He and the victim] spent sleepovers together, went to the park together, had dinners together. And now, [my grandson] feels like the world just ended." "All of the kids know each other," said Sunnie, a Rumford resident. "They all play with each other. They all go to Rumford elementary, the little ones." The Rumford Fire Department shared a post Thursday reflecting on the incident and extended its condolences to Jayce's family and friends. "As most know by now Rumford Fire along with Rumford PD, additional PD units, and Med-Care responded to a horrific accident yesterday. We want to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the little boy as well as the bus driver. "To our first responder family (fire, pd, ems, dispatch), the Rumford ER staff, and anyone involved you're not alone. If you need to talk WE ARE here! Never be ashamed to reach our to your peers and ask for help! Thank you to those who have reached out to check on us, it does not go unrecognized." Neighbors said a lot of kids play in the street because of the lack of yard space by surrounding homes. They hope this tragedy serves as a somber reminder to slow down and pay attention. "It's summertime -- the kids are out, they finally get used to their bikes that they just got for Christmas and things like that. It's outside stuff. And I just feel like people need to be more cautious," Sunnie said. Maine State Police and the Rumford Police Department were jointly investigating. The bus driver was identified by police as Stephen Arsenault, 51, of Dixfield. RSU 10's statement said the district was fully cooperating with the investigation.<doc-sep>The first-grader was fatally hit by a bus while he was out riding his bicycle. A Maine first grader was fatally hit by a school bus after going out for a bicycle ride. The 6-year-old boy was riding near his school in southwest Maine on Wednesday when he fell off the sidewalk and onto a road where a school bus fatally struck him, authorities said. Police said the accident happened at around 3 p.m near an intersection in Rumford, which is about 80 miles north of Portland. "[He] came off from the sidewalk into the intersection and attempted to brake and he and the bicycle fell into the road," the Rumford Police Department said in a statement. "The child was struck by the rear tire of the bus. The child's mother was immediately on the scene." Officers said four students were on the bus at the time of the crash, but there were no injuries reported. Police have not confirmed the child's identity. His school, Rumford Elementary, also mourned his death in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening. "RES families, it is with great sadness that let you know that one of our students passed away this afternoon after an accident," the school said in a statement. "We know that the days ahead will be difficult for our entire community." The school canceled its Family Fun Night that was scheduled for Thursday and said its "staff will work to support kiddos in the days ahead." Police said the crash is still under investigation.<doc-sep>
A six-year-old boy crossing a street in Maine street on his bicycle on Wednesday afternoon was struck and killed by a school bus making a turn. Rumford Police Chief Stacy Carter says the boy, identified as Jayce Holt, had rode off the sidewalk into the intersection of Waldo Street and Essex Avenue at about 3pm as the bus with four students on board turned through the intersection. Carter says Jayce, a first-grader at the nearby Rumford elementary School, attempted to brake but he fell into the road along with his bike. The child was then struck and killed by a rear tire of the bus turning onto Essex Avenue. One of the children on the bus at the time was reportedly his friend. Jayce Holt, 6 (left and right), lost his life after being struck by a school bus on a street in Rumford, Maine, where he was riding his bike Wednesday This photo shows the aftermath of the accident at the intersection of Waldo Street and Essex Avenue in Rumford, with Jayce's bike still lying in the road A makeshift memorial is seen near the spot where Holt fell into the road at an intersection while attempting to break Investigators believe the boy was interacting with someone on the bus while riding his bicycle, reported News Center Maine. Jayce's mother immediately showed up on the scene of the accident, and according to the description of a GoFundMe campaign, the boy's sister was also there. Jayce was taken to Rumford Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. A makeshift memorial made up of flowers, balloons and stuffed animals has sprung up near the spot where the first-grader was fatally struck, reported WGME. The driver of the bus that clipped the six-year-old was identified by police as 51-year-old Stephen Arsenault. Neither he nor students on the bus were injured. The principle of Rumford Elementary School said in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening that counselors will be made available in the days ahead to help students and staff. Jayce's mother and older sister immediately showed up on the scene. His uncle Stephen (right) later posted a tribute to his 'little man' Jayce is survived by his mother and older sister, pictured above 'We know that the days ahead will be difficult for our entire community,' Jill Bartash wrote. 'Know that all staff will work to support kiddos in the days ahead.' A 'Family Fun Night' that had been scheduled for Thursday night would be postponed. A candlelight vigil was scheduled to be held for Jayce. Carol Pyatt, the grandmother of one of the four students riding the bus at the time of the accident, said her grandson was a friend of Jayce's and was devastated by his death. "[He] didn't know whether to cry or what to do. He was just devastated with the whole thing," she told News Center Maine. "[He and the victim] spent sleepovers together, went to the park together, had dinners together. [He] feels like the world just ended." Jayce's uncle, Stephen Holt, has been posting heartbreaking Facebook tributes to his deceased nephew, whom he affectionately called his 'little man.' 'My heart is broken and I just don't know how to feel,' he wrote early Thursday. As of noon, the online fundraiser started by a neighbor to help Jayce's family with his final expense has drawn more than $2,600 in donations.