Father speaks out, son killed by school bus

LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. (WSVN) -- A father is trying to cope with the loss of his son after he was struck and killed by a school bus Tuesday evening.

The victim's father, William Hazelhurst, cannot understand how a school bus driver did not see a pedestrian in daylight. "He was pretty much dead, there on the scene. That was a lot of speed there on that turn. I saw no skid marks, so I don't think they were trying to avoid him, and I don't think they saw him. I'm pretty angry that he was run down like that," said the grieving father.

According to authorities, Raymond Hazelhurst was hit by a school bus and died at the hospital after paramedics and emergency room doctors made their best efforts to save the 35-year-old.

Hazelhurst said his son was autistic, and he does not understand how the bus driver could have struck his son in such a wide open visible intersection.

Broward Sheriff's Office detectives are investigating the accident, which occurred on Northwest 41st Street.

Authorities said 54-year-old Luis Gomez was driving the bus, which was carrying students from Boyd Anderson High School, when he struck Hazelhurst around 5 p.m.

The school district said Gomez has been reassigned pending the outcome of its internal investigation, as well as the investigation underway by Broward County detectives.

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