Five-Year-Old Boy Killed Trying to Board School Bus in Shocking Incident

A small Maine town is reeling after federal investigators revealed devastating new details about how a 5-year-old boy was killed while trying to board his school bus.

The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary findings Friday, describing a sequence of events that officials called “every parent’s worst nightmare.”

The child, identified as 5-year-old Simon Gonzalez, died on December 16, 2025, in Standish after his arm became trapped in the doors of a moving school bus. He was dragged almost the length of a football field before falling to the road and being run over.

It was just after 8 a.m. on Route 35 when a bus for Maine School Administrative District #6 pulled up to a stop near Edna Libby Elementary School.

A 7-year-old student boarded without incident. Simon approached moments later from the right side of the bus.

According to the NTSB, the doors suddenly began closing before Simon could step aboard.

“The student extended his left arm into the bus, between the closing doors, and his arm became pinned,” investigators wrote. “The bus began to drive south on Route 35, and the student was dragged about 280 feet before he became dislodged and run over.”

He died from his injuries at the scene.

Only one other child was on board at the time — Simon’s half-brother. Neither he nor the driver was physically hurt.

Outside the home where Simon lived, his grandfather Jason Small described a child full of energy and joy.

“Simon loved life. He loved to just be on the go,” Small said. “Our family has been devastated. He was and always will be extremely loved and missed.”

Neighbors say Simon was known for racing around the yard, often pretending to be a superhero. “To lose him like this… it just breaks everyone here,” one neighbor told local reporters.

Superintendent Clay Gleason sent a message to families soon after the tragedy.

“It is with great sadness that I share the news that there was a fatal accident involving an elementary school student,” he wrote. The district has not publicly commented since the release of the federal findings.

The bus, investigators noted, belonged to the Bonny Eagle School District, which serves several communities in southern Maine.

Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said the driver has not been charged, but the case remains open.

“We’re looking at every factor,” Joyce said. “This is a profoundly tragic situation for everyone involved.”

School transportation experts say such accidents are exceedingly rare. Most modern buses are equipped with sensor systems designed to prevent door entrapment. Investigators have not said whether this bus had those safeguards or whether they malfunctioned.

NTSB investigators spent several days mapping skid marks, door mechanics, camera footage and driver statements. Their full report could take months.

“Every aspect of this crash remains under review,” the agency said. “Our goal is to determine the probable cause and recommend safety measures to prevent future tragedies.”

Until then, the community of Standish is left mourning a little boy who never made it to class that morning.

“He just wanted to get on the bus,” Simon’s grandfather said. “That’s what hurts the most.”