6-Year-Old Girl Killed by School Bus on Aberdeen Road in Frankfort

A 6-year-old girl was struck and killed by a school bus near her own front yard in Frankfort on Tuesday afternoon. The crash happened in front of other students riding the bus, and neighbors on the block said they were left shaken.

Frankfort police said the crash happened around 3:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Aberdeen Road, just west of Harlem Avenue in the Prestwick neighborhood. The Cook County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Jenna Menias, 6, who lived on the block where she was hit.

Officers arriving at the scene found Menias unresponsive with serious injuries. Witnesses and first responders began CPR immediately, and she was taken to a hospital, where she died. Aerial footage of the scene showed two yellow school buses parked near marked police cars and emergency vehicles, with a crowd gathered nearby and a purple backpack left in the street.

The bus involved was operated by Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 and was carrying students from Frankfort School District 157-C, according to a Lincoln-Way spokesperson. Several students were on board when Menias was struck. The district said those students were evaluated at the scene by emergency responders before being reunited with their families.

Frankfort police said in a statement that the crash "has had a profound impact on those involved, their families, and our community," adding that the department's thoughts are with the victim, her family and everyone affected. Frankfort Mayor Keith Ogle asked residents to keep the family, witnesses and first responders in their prayers.

District 157-C sent a letter to families and staff Wednesday confirming that Menias was a student at Grand Prairie Elementary School. "It is with profound sadness that we share that our school community has experienced an unimaginable loss," the letter read. The district said schools remained open Wednesday but added social workers, psychologists and other trained support staff throughout the district to help students and staff "who may be struggling with grief, anxiety, or other emotions related to the tragedy."

Timothy Buhe, who lives near the Menias family and said his own daughter used the same bus stop years ago, described the crash site as about 90 feet from his driveway. "We knew the family," Buhe said. "We knew the daughter. That was our daughter's bus stop also. She's older now, so very heart wrenching, and we really feel for the family." He said neighbors up and down the block have been left shaken. "I feel terrible for the parents and the surrounding neighbors here. Just count your blessings every day for your family and friends and say prayers for everyone."

Frankfort police confirmed Wednesday morning that the crash involved one child and one school bus. District 157-C and Lincoln-Way Transportation are assisting Frankfort police and the Will County Sheriff's Office with the investigation. No charges have been announced, and police have not released additional details about how the crash occurred.

The loss comes a week after another child's death shook the same south suburb. A 2-year-old boy in Frankfort died after being found unresponsive with injuries inside his family's home, and his mother, Corie A. Walsh, 40, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in that case. Mayor Ogle referenced both cases in his social media post this week, calling the back-to-back losses "heartbreaking news again involving a child."

The investigation into Tuesday's crash remains open. Frankfort police have not said when they expect to release further findings or whether any citations will be issued.