An eighth grader from McKeesport was killed when she was hit by a dump truck as school let out, late Thursday afternoon. She was only fourteen.

The girl was officially identified this morning by an Allegheny County medical examiner. Witnesses say she was crossing Eden Park Boulevard, following a group of friends, when she was hit. They say she was not walking within the designated cross-walk area and that a school bus likely obstructed her view of the dump truck when she ran into the street.

An Allegheny County Policeman told reporters that traffic was stopped at a red light, but that it is assumed she attempted to cross the street just as the light changed. He believes that many children likely saw the accident, both on the bus and those who had just been let off. The girl was Life-Flighted to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and was pronounced dead at around 8 p.m. She was a student at Founders Hall Middle School of the McKeesport School District. School officials say there will be grief counselors at the school on Friday to speak with students.

As police continue to investigate what happened, this tragedy is another reminder of how dangerous our roads can be during rush hour and when school lets out. Truck drivers must always be alert, especially in residential areas when school buses are around. And although it's an unwritten rule that we may overlook as adults, teaching your children to properly look both ways is one of the most important lessons to learn in a young person's life.

Source: WPXI, "Girl, 14, killed by dump truck in McKeesport ID'd; Students may have witnessed accident" 6 March 2014