The family of a young student in Colbert County, Alabama, is seeking justice following a tragic incident that occurred nearly six months ago. A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the Colbert County Board of Education and the drivers involved in the incident that led to the death of a fourth-grade student, identified in court documents as S.K.

Details of the Incident

On December 15, 2025, S.K. and her sister, L.K., were returning home from school on a bus operated by Allen Odell McCalpin, an employee of the Colbert County Board of Education. After being dropped off at their designated stop on Woodmont Drive, S.K. crossed the street to retrieve mail from a mailbox. Tragically, as she attempted to cross back, she was struck by a vehicle driven by Lawrence S. Grissom. The incident occurred near the intersection of County Farm Road, and S.K. was later pronounced dead at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield. Her sister L.K. witnessed the accident.

Lawsuit Allegations

The lawsuit, filed by Twanta Kirby on behalf of her daughters, accuses the defendants of negligence and wantonness. It includes several counts: wrongful death against Grissom for failing to maintain a proper lookout and yield to a pedestrian; respondeat superior against the School Board for the alleged negligence of bus driver McCalpin; negligent hiring, training, and supervision by the School Board; and bystander mental anguish for L.K., who suffered severe emotional distress from witnessing the collision.

The family is seeking a trial by jury to address these allegations. At the time of the incident, Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine described the crash as appearing accidental, and the Alabama State Troopers conducted the initial investigation. No public responses have been made by the defendants regarding the lawsuit.

Original reporting: Rocket City Now (Huntsville) — read the source article.