Like most fourth-grade students within the Wichita, Kansas community, Harmoney Harper, an 8-year-old attending Oaklawn Elementary, eagerly anticipated the start of the new school year, which officially commenced on Tuesday, August 15th. Although her first day proceeded smoothly, tragedy struck on her second day before it even began.
On Wednesday, August 16th, as the young girl awaited her school bus alongside her brother outside their residence, she was tragically struck by a school bus, a different one from the bus she was expecting. Swiftly, first responders arrived at the scene, but Harper remained unresponsive and was declared deceased after undergoing CPR.
This heartbreaking incident unfolded at approximately 7:20 a.m. on the 3300 block of E. Locust in Derby, Kansas. It remains unclear how many students were on the bus when the accident occurred, but authorities have confirmed that no other injuries were sustained. Harper’s mother and father were inside their home and swiftly rushed outside once they became aware of the distressing situation.
“My wife reported hearing my son’s cries for his sister, and she immediately went outside. I was awakened by the urgent plea ‘I need you now.’ I hurriedly got dressed. Before I reached the front door, I had already heard the chilling words, ‘Call 911, my daughter has passed away,'” shared Jasper Harper, the father of the young girl. “She was playing outside her home, where she should have felt safe.”
Neighbors were jolted from their routines upon hearing the anguished cries of Harmoney’s mother, who exclaimed, “Oh my God, oh my God, my baby” – a desperate plea for assistance that no parent should ever become accustomed to.
“I just… I wish I could embrace that mother right now. I want her to know that there is an abundance of people here, offering prayers and support,” shared one compassionate neighbor.
Another resident nearby expressed profound empathy for the grieving family but also extended sympathy to the bus driver, remarking, “I can only imagine the turmoil the bus driver must be going through. Hearing the mother’s cries of ‘Oh my God, oh my God,’ it simply shattered my heart.”
According to law enforcement officials, they do not anticipate any charges to be filed in this tragic incident.
Following the tragic loss of the young girl, her family established a GoFundMe campaign to assist with the expenses associated with her funeral. The campaign’s description kindly requests, “If you are unable to contribute financially, please offer prayers and words of encouragement to support this grieving family.” As of August 18th, the page had garnered 550 donations, totaling $23,792.
In the days that followed the little girl’s passing, members of the Wichita, Kansas community have come forward to share their personal interactions and experiences with Harmoney. One such individual, Oaklawn Elementary Principal Donna Osborn, showered Harmoney with praise, describing her as a child “full of compliments for everyone around her.”
“Every time you encountered her, she wore a radiant smile and consistently offered warm hugs to everyone. Her departure is an immense sorrow, and we will profoundly feel the absence of Harmoney here at Oaklawn,” expressed Osborn. Heather Bohaty, the Superintendent of USD 260, also conveyed her deep sorrow regarding the young girl’s passing.
Bohaty conveyed, “The loss of one of our students has left us utterly heartbroken.” She further emphasized that both students and staff would receive support from additional social workers deployed from various schools across the district to assist them in navigating the grieving process. Additionally, she used this tragic event as an opportunity to provide guidance to parents on how to sensitively discuss the topic of death with their children.
Bohaty encouraged parents to foster open conversations with their children about their feelings, provide reassurance of their safety and security, convey the truth gently, offer warmth, affection, and physical presence, and maintain established routines. Simultaneously, she underscored the importance of imparting awareness about road safety.
