Police: 16-year-old died after vehicle disregarded stop sign, was struck by bus

MILWAUKEE -- A 16-year-old boy who was the passenger of a vehicle that disregarded a stop sign and was struck by a school bus died at the scene near 37th and Sheridan Tuesday, Feb. 5, police said.

It happened just before 4:30 p.m.

Police said the driver of the vehicle, a 17-year-old, was arrested. There was a total of three people in the vehicle.

The driver of the school bus remained on scene, and was cooperating with investigators. In addition to the driver, there was one other person on the bus.

Police and others worked to comfort the grieving family, as the investigation at the scene lasted into the night.

Estelle Cockroft

"There's no words to say to a mom who walks up and sees her son on the ground deceased. There's nothing you can say to her at that moment," said Estelle Cockroft, minister at Greater New Birth Church. "I don't know this family, but my heart goes out to them."

Cockroft stopped at the scene when she saw the commotion.

"Something told me to come back, and so as I came back, I experienced a mom pretty hysterical and I wanted to just come back and be of service to her," said Cockroft.

Police allowed Cockroft to help officers calm the 17-year-old driver immediately after the crash. She said he was the older brother of the boy who died.

"The police did allow me the opportunity to minister to her son that was being detained by the police officer. He did allow me the opportunity to pray with him, so I was grateful for that. He was very, very, very upset," said Cockroft.

She said the family would be in her thoughts as the investigation continued.

"If we can just love on our family members while they're here, because we never know the time or the hour when we will not see them again," said Cockroft.