SOUTH BEND — A South Bend fifth grader was struck and killed by a passing pickup truck Monday morning as he tried to catch a TRANSPO bus to school.

The victim has been identified as 11 year old Tristian Moore, a student at the Success Academy. The charter school is not part of the public school system, and does not have its own bus service. “We’re public charter but we’re not part of the public schools and we don’t offer bussing, one of the issues of parents coming here they have to make sure that they’re able to get their child here,” said Success Academy Pricipal Dean Fecher.

For a year and a half, TRANSPO is how Tristian and his eight year old brother got to school, according to the principal.

Police say Tristian and his eight year old brother were crossing South Michigan Street together from east to west when the older boy was hit (the younger brother was not injured).

Tristian’s body ended up in the lane closest to the TRANSPO lot—which now carries southbound traffic—now that two-way traffic has returned to South Bend.

The name of the 54 year old driver of the pickup truck has not been released although police say he has been cooperative.

The accident took place just south of South Street—at an intersection that used to have a controlled and lighted pedestrian crosswalk.

Both the pedestrian and traffic signals were shut off as part of the two way streets program so that the cross traffic no longer stops, leaving the boys on their own in crossing the street.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for funeral expenses. Learn more at gofundme.com/tristian-martice-moore

Source: WNDU