Leanna Herrera, a 4-year-old, died after she was struck by a Panama Central School bus making an out-of-district drop-off Monday morning outside Fletcher Elementary School.

The area around the school was closed while parents were dropping off their children Monday morning while the Jamestown police investigated the accident, and Cole Avenue near the school was closed for several hours. The New York State Police were also on the scene. Jamestown police said Tuesday that upon completion of the preliminary investigation, there are no charges at this time for the operator of the school bus. “All parties involved in the incident have been cooperative with the investigation,” they said, noting the investigation is still ongoing.

Besides the moment of silence at the beginning of the work session, members of the Public Safety Committee also sent their respects to the family.

“I will just make a public statement that I am saddened by the tragedy that happened today at Fletcher school,” Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large and chair of the public safety committee said. “Definitely pray for that family and everyone involved, from the first responders that came to that event, to the school staff and everyone that was in the area. It was an absolutely horrible, tragic event. I feel for everyone, especially the family of that little girl.”

Both the City Council’s Public Safety Committee and the entire council took time during their meetings Monday to acknowledge the tragedy in front of Fletcher Elementary School on Monday with a moment of silence. Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large, is pictured speaking about the incident. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward 5, added to that, saying he was on the scene soon after the ambulance left, and commended the police department and first responders on their response to it.

“I’ve got to commend (Police Chief) Tim (Jackson) and his guys and the firefighters and everyone that showed up to help with any crowd control,” Reynolds said. “There were very, very despondent folks and traffic was horrible and it was a terrible accident.”

A memorial was put up in front of Fletcher Elementary for the child later on Monday, and a Go Fund Me has been started for the family, already sitting at $11,929 as of Tuesday morning. The Go Fund Me can be found at gofund.me/276a5c798.

Amanda Sischo, Fletcher Elementary School principal, notified Fletcher parents of the situation around 12:20 p.m. Monday.

“It is with great sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the loss of a Fletcher Elementary School student who was fatally injured Monday morning in an accident with an out-of-district bus,” Sischo said. “Our hearts are with the student’s family, friends and all those who knew and loved her. This is a tragic loss for the Fletcher school community and all of us in the Jamestown Public Schools family. Members of our Building Crisis Team have been working with our counselors and other staff members to help students and staff deal with their feelings and emotions.”