Woodlands Middle School offers emotional support to community after student killed in tragic accident

Two middle school students were pummeled down by a semi in front of the Woodlands Middle School on Thursday afternoon, leaving one dead and the other seriously injured.

The incident took place west of Lantana, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has reported. The names of the students and the condition of the survivor remain unclear, though it is known that they were exiting their school at around 4 p.m. Spokesperson Teri Barbera of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) said:

"Right now all I can confirm is that two students were struck by a possible semi."

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Everything we know about the tragic accident outside Woodlands Middle School that claimed the life of one and left another in the hospital

In the wake of the incident, Jennifer Kuras, the principal of Woodlands Middle School, issued the following message to the families of the community:

"Woodlands Middle School families, It is with great sadness I inform you that one of our students has died following an off-campus incident. Another student involved in the incident is currently in the hospital. For confidentiality reasons and out of respect for the privacy of the families, I am not sharing the names of the students at this time. I have been in touch with their families. On behalf of Woodlands Middle School, I have expressed our sincere condolences to the family of the student who has passed away. I will do what I can to provide support on behalf of our school community."

The statement also reveals that several students were privy to the accident that day. Hence, the principal revealed, grief counseling, school counselors, and school psychologists would be at the families' disposal on campus Friday. Kuras also revealed that should a child need emotional support, they could call 211 to reach the 211 Helpline for Palm Beach and Treasure Coast.

One student who witnessed the accident told WPBF 25 News that she was just crossing the street when she heard the noise. "A big bang, which was the truck hitting the young gentlemen,” her father said.

“Me and my friends thought it was a gunshot,” the girl said. “We saw two kids laying on the ground,” she added. “One of them was unconscious, and one of them was trying to get up.”

She revealed that at the time, nobody knew what had just transpired. WPBF reports that the deputies believe the student who is currently in the hospital will survive.

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As for the driver of the truck, they reportedly stopped not too far away from the scene. In the hours after the accident, detectives flooded the scene in the hopes of locating clues and determining who was to blame.