VANDERBURGH CO., Ind. (WFIE) – A student was seriously injured Tuesday after being struck by an Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation bus in a mobile home park parking lot.

As we reported, it happened at Grandin Pointe Mobile Home Park along North Saint Joseph Avenue.

Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson said the student had been dropped off by a bus in the parking lot, which he said is common for that area, and had bent down to adjust her backpack when another bus pulled in and began a turnaround maneuver in the lot.

The bus struck the student, who was then dragged underneath the bus and the vehicle’s wheels, resulting in what he described as serious, catastrophic injuries.

Robinson said the maneuver is common for buses in that area because many children who live in the mobile home park. He said it is one of the few areas wide enough for a bus to turn around.

He said the bus driver stayed on the scene and was fully cooperative. Because the crash involved serious bodily injury, the driver submitted to a chemical test.

He said the results are pending, but alcohol has been ruled out as a factor, and at this time, they do not suspect any other impairment was involved.

Robinson said no charges have been filed at this point, but that could change in the future when the investigation is finished.

He said the sheriff’s office’s accident reconstruction team is investigating in conjunction with the Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division.

Kaydence, a 7th grader at Thomkins Middle School, was seriously injured after being hit by a school bus.(GoFundMe)
The student, Kaydence Helfert, 13-years-old, a seventh grader at Thompkins Middle School, was taken to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. She now faces multiple surgeries.

Kaydence’s mother, Angela Kay, said her daughter has a dislocated hip, a severe pelvic fracture and internal injuries.

Kay said Kaydence is sedated and would remain that way until her next surgeries, which she said should happen in the next couple of days.

“Well I know that she’s never going to have a normal life again. That’s our main concern right now is just getting her back to good health. Whatever normal can be,” Kay said.

Kay said Kaydence attends church with people from the mobile home park, plays with children there and has a big personality. She is also a member of her school’s student council.

According to the GoFundMe fundraiser, Kaydence’s mother and siblings are with her at the hospital, three hours from home.

A public GoFundMe was made to help with costs including meals, travel and medical expenses.

An EVSC spokesperson shared the following statement with 14 News on Wednesday:

“Our primary concern is the well-being of our student who was involved in yesterday’s accident. She is receiving medical care, and we are keeping her and her family in our thoughts. We have been in contact with the family and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”