Mom says 10-year-old son was grabbing mail when he was hit, killed by car

CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — A Cabarrus County community is grieving after an elementary school student was killed when he was hit by a car last week, school district officials confirmed with Channel 9.

Officials said 10-year-old Osdanis Hernandez was hit by a vehicle moments after being dropped off by a school bus on Mount Pleasant Road North near Mount Olive Road just after 4 p.m. Channel 9 learned the student may have been crossing the road for a second time to get the mail when he was hit.

Osdanis was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.

Video from Chopper 9 Skyzoom showed the bus along the road with several other emergency vehicles. School district officials told Channel 9 the school bus was not involved in the crash and was not at the scene when it happened.

The Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and said the driver who hit Osdanis had stopped and done what he could to help. The district attorney in Cabarrus County will decide if that driver will face charges.

Osdanis’ mother, Jazmine Zamora, told Channel 9 on Monday that she would often ask her son to get the mail, which is across the street from their home.

Osdanis was waiting to cross Mount Pleasant Road back to their home when he was hit by the car. Zamora believes the driver was not paying attention to the road.

“The lady (had) to be distracted with something while driving,” Zamora told Channel 9 through interpreters with Telemundo.

Zamora said she wants the mailbox moved because it brings painful memories. She said her son was the oldest of four children.

The day after the boy died, Channel 9 spoke with Albert Shinn, who lives along the road where the collision happened. He said the area is dangerous.

“This is a terrible stretch of road here,” said Shinn. “We’ve had several fatalities within a mile of right here where we stand. We’ve had numerous accidents. In about a 700-feet stretch of my property, I’ve had at least five accidents right there.”

Cabarrus County Schools’ crisis response team was at Mount Pleasant Elementary School on Thursday to support students and staff.

“I wouldn’t even imagine how the mom feels this morning, not being able to get her son up and ready for school,” said Lisa Layton, a grandparent of another child.

A gofundme account has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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