Oct. 30 -- A 9-year-old girl and her twin 6-year-old brothers were killed early Tuesday in Indiana when a pickup truck struck them as they were preparing to board a school bus.
A fourth child was also injured, and was airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital. The 11-year-old boy, who is not related to the other kids, suffered multiple broken bones.
The four kids were crossing the two-lane road to get on a Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. bus about 7 a.m. when they were hit by the vehicle in Rochester, about 100 miles from Indianapolis. The bus had stopped with its arm deployed.
Twins Xzavier and Mason Ingle and their older sister Alivia Stahl died at the scene.
"I just can't imagine the pain that family is going through," Sgt. Tony Slocum of the Indiana State Police said, according to NBC in Chicago.
Maverik Lowe, the other child struck by the pick-up truck, was awake and speaking to responders before being taken to the hospital.
There was no one on the bus at the time of the accident, according to the station. Investigators are interviewing the woman who was driving the truck.
"The one thing I'd like to tell people we all have a responsibility to share the road in a safe manner," Sgt. Slocum said, according to NBC. "I don't know why this crash -- why this person did not see the stop arm extended but we all need to pay a little more attention because it's all our responsibility to make sure our children get to and from school safely."
Slocum said it was unclear if the driver would face criminal charges in connection with the deaths. Motorists are required to stop when a school bus is picking up or dropping off kids, by law.
He told ABC News that the driver agreed to a blood test to see if drugs or alcohol were factors.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement that "words cannot express the depth of sorrow Janet and I feel, which only pales in comparison to what family, friends, teachers, classmates and community are feeling right now."
"Today, and for many more to come, we mourn their loss," he added. "I ask Hoosiers around the state to join us by sending your deepest prayers for the strength needed to endure such a time."
Tippecanoe Valley High School said that "our school corporation has suffered a tragedy this morning."
"We are awaiting to learn more confirmed details but wish to ask the community to come together to pray for the families, our students and our staff," the school said.
The school said it has deployed counselors to help staff, students and parents.
With News Wire Services.
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