Oklahoman Newspaper
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, OK
November 11, 1995, pg 13

Community Mourns Dead Child, Bus Driver

KELLYVILLE (AP) — The death of 5-year-old Joshua Gibson threw this small community into mourning Friday — for both the child and the 56-year-old substitute school bus driver who ran over him.

A bus driven by Billy McGuire hit the boy and rolled over him Thursday as the child attempted to cross the street after being dropped off after school.

"This tragedy has hit us all hard here because everybody knows everybody," Police Chief Kenneth Alexander said Friday.

"This is a sad situation for Gibson's family and the McGuires," he said. "Everyone understands and knows this was an accident, a horrible accident."

McGuire was arrested Thursday on a complaint of leaving the scene of a fatality accident. He was quickly released on his own recognizance.

After realizing what had happened to Joshua, McGuire left the scene to take the busload of children to their homes. Authorities said McGuire wanted to get the children away from the scene and returned after dropping them off.

Assistant District Attorney Max Cook said McGuire could face several charges ranging from leaving the scene of a fatality accident to negligent homicide.

The charges, if any, will depend on the outcome of the investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Cook said.

The boy's aunt, Kim Canady, said Friday that "nothing will bring back Joshua" and the only explanation for his death was that "God was ready for Joshua to be in heaven."

"Putting the bus driver in prison won't help either," Canady said. "He's already paying for it. His mind and heart will always be in prison because he is going to have to live with this awful tragedy for the rest of his life."

Cat Smith, a Creek County jailer and McGuire's neighbor, called him "an honest man with good intentions."

McGuire appeared to be in shock Thursday night, Smith said. McGuire told him he thought the boy was standing on the side of the bus as he pulled away from the stop.

Smith said McGuire left the scene because the other children were screaming and crying "Billy said he had to get them away from the scene and home to their mommies and daddies," he said. Superintendent Dwight Davidson said counselors were at the school Friday to help the children deal with the loss of their classmate. Funeral services for the child are scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Kellyville.

[10-29-2017 a match at FindAGrave]