East High reels after freshman killed by school bus

Photo by: KATIE RICKMAN | THE VINDICATOR A distraught parent is moved to a stretcher after daughter Faith McCullough-Wooster was killed after falling into the path of a school bus Wednesday.

By JOE GORMAN

jgorman@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Crisis teams will be at East High School today to help students deal with the freak accident that resulted in the death of a classmate.

Faith McCullough-Wooster, 14, a freshman and member of the school’s volleyball team, was killed when she fell into the path of a school bus after classes ended Wednesday.

Douglas Hiscox, deputy schools superintendent who was at the scene, would not name the bus driver. He said the driver will be on leave while police investigate.

Classmates described Faith as a good artist and could make up her own rap songs on the spot, they said.

“She was quiet,” said student Andre Ward. “She was talented, but she didn’t really show it. She was quiet all the time.”

Essiana Williams, a student, said she saw the accident that killed Faith at about 3 p.m. on East High Avenue.

Essiana said Faith and another girl were rolling down a large hill on the side of the street that the school’s campus is perched on as a school bus was traveling west.

Essiana said Faith rolled down the hill to the sidewalk and the bus stopped.

The bus then went in motion again, but Faith, perhaps dizzy or disoriented, stumbled into the street, where she was run over by the rear wheels of the bus.

“She was laughing as she fell,” Essiana said of Faith.

Both her parents were at the scene shortly after the accident and both were put into ambulances. Crying could be heard.

A police department chaplain was on the scene.

A group of students stood on the same hill and watched as police cordoned off the area.

Essiana said the bus driver was very shaken up. “She was crying,” Essiana said of the bus driver.

“Everybody’s shaken up right now,” Hiscox said of the driver and school personnel.

“It’s a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go to the family.”

Student Larry Reed agreed with Andre that Faith was well-known for her ability to rap.

“You could just ask her to rap and she started rapping,” Larry said.

“And she could do hell-of-a-good sound effects, too,” Andre added.

Essiana said she would often eat breakfast with Faith. “She’s sweet and dreamy,” Essiana said of her friend.