Community grieves boy's death at bus barn

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Cartersville school system remained in shock Tuesday following the death of an 8-year-old boy.

"Our prayers and thoughts go out to the family in this terrible loss," Ken Clouse assistant superintendent for Cartersville schools said in a statement. "Words do not fully capture the pain our hearts feel at this time; and we join with them as we grieve together."

After getting off a school bus driven by a relative, Garrett Black was struck by another bus Monday afternoon. Garrett got off the school bus at the barn, where he was to meet his mother, who is also employed there, Capt. Frank Cline with Cartersville police told the AJC.

"He exited that bus and as he went around the bus, another bus struck him," Cline said.

The boy died at the scene, around 4 p.m., Cline said. The investigation into the boy's death is under way, but charges are not expected, he said.

The bus that struck Garrett was being driven by another long-time driver with an excellent employee record, Clouse said.

"In our community and relatively small system, the impact is amplified because we truly are a family and care deeply for one another," Clouse said.