Sat, Nov 22, 2008
ez access
Subscriber services | Subscribe now
Custom clipper icon
Tucson Police officers investigate an accident where a 15-year-old Tucson High School student was struck by a school bus while riding a bicycle at the intersection of East Fort Lowell and North Mountain Avenue on Friday.
A.E. Araiza/Arizona Daily Star
More Photos (1):

Most Recent Tucson Traffic Incidents

N CAMPBELL AV/E SILVER ST ,TUC ACCIDENT NO INJURY 11:42
E BROADWAY BL/N PANTANO RD ,TUC ACCIDENT NO INJURY 11:24
E BELLEVUE ST/N COLUMBUS BL ,TUC ACCIDENT UNKNOWN INJURIES 11:15
S KOLB RD/E SYCAMORE PARK BL ,TUC ACCIDENT UNKNOWN INJURIES 10:58
E GRANT RD/N SWAN RD ,TUC ACCIDENT NO INJURY 10:45
1415 S SAN FELIPE DR ,TUC ACCIDENT NO INJURY 07:19
updated every 5 minutes - incidents provided by transview.org

Hourly Update

Tucson High student killed by school bus 'well-liked,' say friends and teachers

By Alexis Huicochea
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.12.2008
A 15-year-old Tucson High student was killed this morning after he was struck by a school bus as he was riding his bicycle, police said.
Kevin Robinson-Barajas — a sophomore — was on his way to school at the time, according to Lt. Rick Middleton, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.
“This is a very sad situation,” he said.
The incident occurred just after 7 a.m. at East Fort Lowell Road and North Mountain Avenue.
There were five children from Holaway Elementary School ages 8 and 9 on the school bus, which belongs to the Amphitheater school district, officials said. None were injured.
Both the bus and Robinson-Barajas were southbound on Mountain at Fort Lowell when the collision occurred, police said.
It is not clear if Robinson-Barajas was moving or stationary when he was pulled underneath the bus as it made a right turn onto Fort Lowell.
He was run over by the right rear tire and pronounced dead at the scene, Middleton said. It did not appear as though he was wearing a helmet.
No citations have been issued as the investigation is ongoing.
The driver whose name has not been released has been a bus driver with the district for a little less than one year and in that time he has not had any prior traffic accidents, according to Todd Jaeger, an Amphitheater district spokesman.
He has been placed on paid administrative leave, Jaeger said.
Counseling is being offered to students at Tucson High Magnet School.
Robinson-Barajas was remembered at school Friday as an “affable young man” who was well-liked and had lots of friends. His interests included playing guitar and physics.
His student identification picture describes Kevin perfectly, according to his global studies teacher Robin Batty.
Donning a tie-dye shirt and two beaded necklaces, Kevin was “easy going and pleasant,” she said.
A student in the Gate Program for gifted and talented students, Robinson-Barajas was a major contributor in global studies and had a broad knowledge of world and international affairs, Batty said.
Batty is Kevin’s first hour teacher and said she made note of it when Kevin didn’t show up because he was rarely absent. She learned later in the morning of what had occurred.
“I was devastated to hear of this tragedy and the loss to our class,” she said. “He was good natured and seem to enjoy school. We will certainly miss Kevin in our day to day lives.”
Added Tucson High Principal Abel Morado: “We mourn the loss of one of our badger students.”
The Holaway students were placed on another bus and taken to school where a psychologist was present to assist them, although all were described as “doing well,” according to a news release from the Amphitheater school district.
Their parents were notified of the situation, the release said.
“On behalf of the governing board, the district’s administration and staff from across the district, I want to express the deep sadness we feel and our hearts go out to the family of the boy,” Jaeger said in the news release. “Our thoughts are also with our driver and his family after this terrible accident.”
contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at 573-4242 or at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com
Get Arizona Daily Star home delivery and SAVE BIG!
Go Back