ASHFIELD — A vigil for 9-year-old Summer Steele, who died in a school bus accident Friday, was held at Sanderson Academy on Sunday afternoon.
The girl died when leaving the bus at a stop on South Central Street in Plainfield at about 4 p.m. According to Massachusetts State Police, she “was not fully clear from the bus when the door closed” and the driver pulled away. The bus dragged her for a short distance and then struck her.
She was transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield where she was declared dead at 4:50 p.m., Mary Carey, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s office, said in a statement on Saturday.
Sunday’s vigil was a chance for the school community, as well as friends and family of the Steeles, to gather and grieve. Sanderson Academy is an elementary school of the Mohawk Trail Regional School District that serves Ashfield and neighboring Plainfield in Hampshire County. Counseling services were offered at the event, which was attended by hundreds of people.
In the school lobby, people hugged each other, with some using tissues to wipe away tears. A table held printed handouts with information about how parents can cope with the tragedy. There was also a basket where people could leave sympathy cards.
Families with children were encouraged to go into the library. There, art supplies were available for youngsters to use during the gathering.
Michael Buoniconti, Mohawk Trail Regional School District superintendent, said there will be school on Monday at Sanderson. He said there will be an additional seven counselors in the school this week, one for each class. Other children were on the bus at the time.
“We’ll take it one day at a time. Obviously, it won’t be a normal week,” he said.
He asked that reporters remain outside during the event. One reporter that briefly entered the school was asked to leave after taking some notes.
Marcy Finck Pericolosi, a friend of Steele’s family, set up a Go Fund Me page for the costs of the funeral on behalf of Steele’s parents. As of Sunday evening, it had raised more than $44,000 for the family.
“Summer was a beautiful, loving, joyful little girl and everyone lucky enough to meet her instantly fell in love,” she said on the Go Fund Me page. “Her family, friends and the community are truly devastated.”
Those who wish to donate can do so at: gofundme.com/2wn8kb8
Carey, the spokeswoman for Northwestern District Attorney’s office, said there were no updates to the investigation on Sunday.
“The loss of Summer Steele to her family and community are unimaginable,” Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan said in Saturday’s statement.
The incident remains under investigation by the Plainfield Police Department, as well as the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Crime Scene Services and troopers assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
The male bus driver, who has not been identified, works for F.M. Kuzmeskus Inc. of Gill, and is being interviewed by state police detectives working with the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
“We never identify people unless charges are brought against them,” Carey said.
It was not immediately known whether the driver would be facing charges.
David Normand, a spokesman for the bus company, issued a statement Saturday afternoon.
“We are greatly saddened by this tragedy and offer our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family. We pledge our assistance in working and cooperating with state and local authorities,” the statement said. “While we cannot change what happened, we are deeply grieved for this tragic loss of life.”
At mid-morning Saturday, South Central Street was quiet under a gray sky. Several of Summer’s relatives and a Sanderson Academy art teacher gathered at the family home. They said they were not yet ready to talk about the tragedy, and asked for privacy in their time of loss.
Bobby C. Campbell, a disc jockey who lives in Bernardston, said he was heartsick when he heard the news of Summer’s death. Campbell, who was the DJ at the wedding of Summer’s parents, Amanda and Brent, in the early 2000s, said he keeps in touch with the family.
“I just feel so bad for them and what they’ve gone through,” Campbell said Saturday. “This is a tragedy for the family to have something like this happen to their little girl.”
Scott Merzbach and Stephanie Murray, for The Recorder, contributed to this report.