NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – New Orleans police are investigating a fatal traffic crash that killed a 6-year-old boy Thursday morning (April 10).
The incident happened shortly after 8 a.m. in the 1400 block of Desire Street, in the city’s Ninth Ward. Police say the child was exiting his mother’s car and attempting to board a school bus when he was struck by the vehicle.
The boy was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Family members at the scene identified the child as Mason Richards. Mason was a student at KIPP Leadership, and his death has left his family—and the surrounding community—devastated.
“My little nephew is dead. You can’t bring him back. This is a problem!” said Andrea Haynes, Mason’s aunt.
New Orleans police say the bus driver remained at the scene and showed no signs of impairment. The driver took a field sobriety test and, according to the department, there is no indication of impairment. No charges are being filed at this time.
“There are no charges being filed right now. There is no indication of impairment,” said NOPD officer Reese Harper.
According to neighbors, the bus stopped further down the street after hitting Mason. One neighbor told FOX 8 off-camera that Mason’s mother picked up her son and carried him back to her car in an attempt to rush him to the hospital. Two other neighbors performed CPR until an ambulance arrived. Mason lived about a block away from the bus stop.
“He loved his momma, he loved his grandma, his uncle, he loved his paw paw. He loved everybody. He was a good child, a fun child and played every day. He was an awesome, awesome nephew,” said Haynes.
Pastor Fredrick Sweetwyne, a family friend who rushed to the scene, said Mason’s death is a loss felt across the neighborhood.
“Having a six-year-old die in the street is very horrific. Our prayers are with this family and we pray God’s blessings upon him,” said Sweetwyne.
“I deal with crisis and I immediately came over to give her counsel. She’s hysterical at this moment. I had an opportunity to speak with her and I can’t imagine what she’s going through with this trauma,” he added, referring to Mason’s mother.
KIPP New Orleans Schools released a statement saying it is offering full support to Mason’s family and the broader KIPP school community. Grief counseling and support services are being made available.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell also issued a statement, calling the loss of Mason “heartbreaking”:
“Today, our City mourns the heartbreaking loss of 6-year-old Mason Richards, a bright, joyful child whose life was tragically cut short. Mason was a beloved student at KIPP Leadership and deeply cherished by his family, friends, and community.
As a mother, I cannot begin to imagine the pain Mason’s family is experiencing. Our hearts are with them during this unimaginable time.
We all want the best for our children’s safety, and we will continue to collaborate with school leadership and the community for a safe future for our young people.
Let us honor Mason’s memory by strengthening our collective commitment to protecting the youngest members of our community.
May his soul rest in perfect peace, and may his family find comfort in the love and support of the entire City of New Orleans.”
Dr. Fateama Fulmore, Superintendent-elect of NOLA Public Schools, also expressed her condolences:
“As the Superintendent-elect of NOLA Public Schools, I am devastated to learn of the tragic loss of Mason Richards, one of our young students at KIPP Leadership. Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and classmates impacted by this heartbreaking incident.
As a district community, the gravity of this loss is felt by all of us and together we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family during this unimaginably difficult time. NOLA-PS remains committed to supporting our school communities during this time of grief. Counseling services will be made available to students and staff as we navigate this loss together.”