5-year-old Standish boy killed by school bus was dragged and run over, NTSB says..
STANDISH, Maine —
A Maine boy was dragged nearly 300 feet before he was run over by a school bus in Standish last month, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Simon Gonzalez, a 5-year-old kindergarten student at Edna Libby Elementary School, died of the injuries he suffered the morning of Dec. 16, 2025.
In its preliminary report, the NTSB said the Bonny Eagle School District bus was stopped in the southbound lane of Northeast Road (Route 35), near the intersection of Route 114, when Simon was approaching the bus from the right rear.
As Simon reached the passenger loading doors, the doors began to close and he extended his left arm into the bus between the closing doors, according to the NTSB.
Investigators said Simon’s arm became pinned between the doors as they closed and the bus began to travel south on Northeast Road.
According to the NTSB, Simon was dragged about 280 feet before he became dislodged from the door and fell into the roadway. Investigators said Simon was then run over by the bus, which resulted in fatal injuries.
“That little boy just meant the world to everyone that ever met him,” said Jason Small, Simon’s grandfather.
“He had the most infectious laugh ever,” said Alex Moore, Simon’s uncle.
A 7-year-old student had boarded the school bus before the incident. Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said the 7-year-old student is Simon’s half-brother.
No charges have been filed in the case, and the NTSB does not file criminal charges.
Superintendent of Schools Clay Gleason said he has read the NTSB’s preliminary report and has no further comment on the incident.
“As a school and district we are focused on healing. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Simon’s family,” Gleason said in an email to Maine’s Total Coverage reporter Bonnie Bishop.
The NTSB said the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police and Maine Department of Transportation were involved in the investigation.
All aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines probable cause. The agency said it intends to issue safety recommendations in an effort to prevent similar events from happening in the future.
