A 9-year-old Monsey boy was killed Sunday after being struck by a van on Maple Avenue, police said.
The boy, who lives on Decatur Avenue, suffered head trauma. He was treated at the scene by Hatzolah Ambulance Corps and was later taken to Westchester County Medical
Center in Valhalla.
Ramapo police said the youngster was standing on the corner of Decatur Avenue when he apparently saw his school bus traveling east along Maple Avenue around 8:38 a.m.
The boy then ran into the street and was struck by a 1998 GMC van traveling west on Maple Avenue, police said.
The school bus driver later told police that he was slowing down to make a scheduled pickup at the intersection when the accident occurred .
The driver told police that the bus' lights were flashing at the time, but the vehicle had not come to a complete stop.
The driver of the van, a 63-year-old New Square resident, was not injured. The Ramapo Police Accident Investigation Unit is conducting an investigation.
Such accidents are all too familiar to residents living in the densely populated neighborhoods off Route 45.
In August, a 2-year-old girl was killed when she darted out onto Clinton Lane in front of a minivan driven by a neighbor.
Another 2-year-old girl died on April 15 after being struck by a car in the parking lot of the New Square Supermarket on Jefferson Avenue.
UPDATED Police were called between 3:30 and 3:45 a.m. today about the boy's death by the Westchester Medical Center.
The initial police investigation found Moshe ran into the street at Decatur Avenue to cross to the other side for his school bus. He ran in front of a 1998 GMC van driven by Herman Gelbman, 63, of New Square and was hit, Emma said.
Gelbman was driving east while the school bus was heading west toward Spring Valley and planned to pick up students at Decatur Avenue, a border street with Spring Valley.
Emma said the investigation found that Gelbman drove in his lane and was not speeding.
While the school bus had just turned on its yellow lights and was slowing down, Gelbman was not required to stop, Emma said. Drivers must stop when school buses flash their red lights.
Emma said the child apparently ran in front Gelbman's van after leaving his sister and running for the school bus.
The bus driver later told officers that he was slowing down to make a scheduled pickup, police said.
"They both are at a point of no return, so to speak," Emma said. "The boy sees the bus and steps right in front of the van. He's knocked down to the curb or street."
Emma said the Westchester Medical Examiner's Office will determine if the head injury caused his death.
The boy's body will not undergo an autopsy for religious reasons, but the medical examiner can still take X-rays, Emma said.
Orthodox Judaism forbids autopsies and separating body parts and fluids from the body. In potential criminal cases, some form of autopsy is allowed but usually after judicial decision.
Police will inspect Gelbman's car, Emma said.
Hatzolah Ambulance Corps treated Moshe at the scene and took him to the medical center in Valhalla.
The Ramapo Police Accident Investigation Unit is conducting an investigation.
Such accidents are all too familiar to residents living in the densely populated neighborhoods off Route 45.
In August, a 2-year-old girl was killed when she darted out onto Clinton Lane in front of a minivan driven by a neighbor.
Another 2-year-old girl died on April 15 after being struck by a car in the parking lot of the New Square Supermarket on Jefferson Avenue.
