The name of a 7-year-old first-grader at Watkins-Nance Elementary School who was struck and killed by a pickup truck shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday has been released.
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said the boy is Joshua Brown, of Edison Street.
Joshua was taken to Palmetto Health Richland by ambulance after the accident, where he was pronounced dead, said Columbia police spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons.
Witnesses told investigators Joshua was last seen standing with a group of children at the corner of Barhamville Road and Jaggers Place at the school, Timmons said. Police do not know yet whether the boy was trying to cross the street or how he got in the road.
There is no indication that the truck driver was speeding when the accident occurred. A nearby crossing guard told investigators that the truck was driven slowly through the school zone shortly before the accident, Timmons said.
Witnesses said the driver stopped and got out of his truck after the collision. He was described as “visibly emotional, very distraught,” Timmons said.
Psychologists, guidance counselors and social workers are all at Watkins-Nance and neighboring schools providing counseling and assistance to students and teachers, said district superintendent Percy Mack in a statement released Thursday morning
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Joshua’s family and with principal Dr. Evelyn Cohens and her students, faculty and staff at Watkins-Nance,” Mack said.
Staff writer R. Darren Price contributed.
