Victims identified: Mamaroneck kindergartener and mother killed by school bus

Mamaroneck Village Police Update:

The victims were identified as Molly Murphy Donovan, a 43-year-old Mamaroneck resident, and her 6-year-old son, Michael Donovan Volpe. The identity of the school bus driver is being withheld at this time as the investigation remains active. There are currently no charges against the bus driver.

The Police Department, along with Mamaroneck Village officials, are partnering with Westchester County to study ways to improve pedestrian and traffic safety at this intersection.

A Mamaroneck Avenue preschool student and his mother were killed after being struck by a school bus on Mamaroneck Avenue near New Street at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, according to police. They were in the crosswalk heading toward school at the time.

The 6-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene; his mother, 43, was taken to the hospital where she died of her injuries, Mamaroneck village police said.

The school bus was traveling eastbound from New Street and turned left onto Mamaroneck Avenue with the green light. The bus was en route to Mamaroneck Avenue School and had several students and an aide on board.

As the bus turned, several parents and children crossed the street at the crosswalk with the walk sign. None of these passengers were injured.

“There is nothing more difficult for a community to experience than the loss of life, and we know that everyone in the Mamaroneck and Larchmont communities is heartbroken by this news,” the district said school in a note addressed to the community. “We also know that the death of a child is particularly difficult for other children to deal with. At this time, we have informed our staff of this incredible loss and social workers and psychologists are fully deployed at MAS.

The school bus driver cooperated with investigators and it appeared at this time, according to police, “that this incident was a tragic accident.”

The bus driver is a 68-year-old man from Mt. Vernon. At this time, no charges are pending.