By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – A 14-year-old girl was injured on the afternoon of March 14 after she was struck by a school bus in Columbiana.

“A 14-year-old and a 12-year-old ran across the road in front of one of the school buses on Depot Street,” Columbiana Police Chief Lamar Vick said, adding the bus wasn’t able to stop in time and struck the 14-year-old girl, who was the second to cross the street.

The girls had not been riding the bus that struck the 14-year-old, Vick said.

“These kids weren’t on the bus,” he said. “They were on the side of the road and ran right out in front of it.”

The incident happened at about 3 p.m. on Depot Street, behind the Shelby County Courthouse.

The 14-year-old was transported to Children’s Hospital by ambulance for non-life-threatening injuries, Vick said.

“She was conscious and alert when she left,” he said.

About four students who were on the bus when the incident occurred were transferred to another bus.

Vick said speed was not a factor in the incident.

“Our preliminary investigation does not indicate any type of driver error,” Deputy Superintendent Tom Ferguson said. “We will be conducting a detailed investigation to determine exactly what did occur.”

Columbiana police and fire department and South Shelby Rescue personnel responded.