A junior at Columbus East High School, located about 45 minutes south of Indianapolis, was struck and killed during a hit and run crash while boarding her school bus.
Local law enforcement responded to the reported incident at 6:55 a.m. on Aug. 30. Sherriff Matt Myers of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office stated that witnesses saw a high school student, later identified as Lily Streeval, attempting to board her school bus when an oncoming vehicle struck her and fled the scene.
“[The motorist] disregarded the stop arms, [and] he struck the victim as they were crossing the street to get on the bus,” continued Myers.
Streeval was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital, where she died from her injuries.
Myers continued that a witness followed the motorist, and the driver of the car was taken into custody later that day. The driver, who has been identified as 25-year-old Shiam Sunder Shankara Subramanian, has been charged with two felonies for leaving the scene of an accident causing death and passing a school bus with extended stop-arms. Authorities have stated that the investigation is still ongoing.
Following the incident, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office announced that they have “increased patrols to protect students going to and from school. Deputies will be out in even greater numbers watching for stop-arm violations and motorists driving dangerously along school bus stops and in school zones.”
Over 200 police departments across the state of Indiana have joined to increase student safety by identifying areas where law enforcement patrols are most needed. This is part of the state’s Stop Arm Violation Enforcement program, or SAVE blitz, an effort funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
Law enforcement stated that during the last safety campaign that was conducted from mid-March 2021 through the end of May, 5,600 citations were issued. Of the citations, “251 were for stop-arm violations…and nearly 1,900 were for speeding.”
“With students back in the classroom, we need everyone to slow down, pay attention to the road and stop for buses,” said Myers. “We’ll be on high-alert and will have zero tolerance for unsafe driving around buses and in school zones. There’s nothing more important to us than the safety of our children.”
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation Superintendent Jim Roberts expressed his condolences in a press release on social media. “As a school corporation, we experienced a devastating loss this morning. Our hearts go out to Lily’s family, friends, classmates, and teachers who loved and supported her. She was full of life and enjoyed attending Columbus East High School. Auto Tech had emerged as her favorite class and she was thinking about a career in this area. We will miss her greatly.”
An announcement was also made at Columbus East High School to students and staff members followed by a moment of silence for Streeval. Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation added that students and staff are being provided with counseling and support.
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