Police: Fairfield student hit by car while crossing to reach their bus stop

Fairfield school officials say a student was hit by a car on Wednesday morning while crossing the street to reach their bus stop.

The student was transported to the hospital with minor issues, according to police.

Police said it happened around 8:45 a.m. around Nichols Avenue and First Street.

Officials said the student attends McKinley Elementary School.

Speed does not seem to be a factor in the crash, according to preliminary reports done by police.

Police said the crash was witnessed by several students on a school bus, which stopped nearby and was loading students.

Fairfield Public Schools says it’s working closely with the police department’s school safety division to ensure the well-being of all the students involved.

School officials said support staff are available to help any students who witnessed the crash and who may need emotional support.

Safety expert and retired Fairfield police, Jim Perez, says every year in the U.S. more than 600 young child pedestrians are killed in similar accidents.

“Thank God that the child was not injured seriously, because this could've been a lot worse, and do you know what that tells me? That tells me the child did look out a little bit and that the car, the driver, was actually going slowly. Had the driver been driving a lot faster, this could've been a whole different story," he said.

Police are reminding the public to be on the lookout for young children crossing the street, especially before and after school.

"Traffic safety is something that every one of us should be thinking about," said Perez.