6-year-old Boy Fatally Struck By Lakeside School Bus

Photos courtesy of Maritza Pica

Raul "Raulito" Espinosa

Boy with autism struck by bus while in crosswalk on S. Chavez Drive and W. Mineral St.

By H. Nelson Goodson

May 21, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, Raul "Raulito" Espinosa, 6, was fatally struck by a Lakeside School bus just before 4:00 p.m. as he was walking in the crosswalk on S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive. Espinosa was struck by a 24-year-old woman bus driver heading Southbound, according to police.

The 24-year-old Lakeside school bus driver was able to stop about a quarter block from the fatal incident after witnesses were able to let the driver know that she had just struck a child. Between three to five school children were in the bus at the time of the incident. They were transferred to another bus, according to witnesses. She is cooperating with police.

Ruben Rogelio, 50, a pickup cart worker from the El Rey Grocery Store told several media news outlets that he noticed Espinosa on the Northeast corner pressing the light change button to cross Chavez Dr. When the light turned green, Espinosa proceeded to walked across East on the crosswalk. The school bus was stopped and then moved forward and apparently struck Espinosa.

Rogelio had to protect Espinosa's body from other traffic that was passing through before police or an ambulance arrived at the scene, according to witnesses. Espinosa died at the scene and the body was transported to the Milwaukee Medical Examiner's Office.
Espinosa suffered from a severe case of autism and had walked out from his home without the caregivers being aware, according to police.

A video surveillance camera at a corner business on the Southeast corner overlooking the area captured the last moments when he was crossing the crosswalk. The bus was stopped and moved forward striking Espinosa.

Three staff members from the Lakeside School Bus company were at the scene.

(Click to enlarge image)

A video surveillance camera on W. Mineral St. from the City Furniture store caught the last minutes of the 6-year-old boy alive wearing a diaper heading to S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive alone before being struck by a Lakeside School Bus. Neighbors in the area say that Raul Espinosa had autism.

His mother was nearby when he was struck and witnessed the fatal incident. Espinosa was pronounced dead at the scene. (HNNUSA)