04/24/13 — Child, 7, killed by truck in Sampson

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Child, 7, killed by truck in Sampson

By John Joyce
Published in News on April 24, 2013 1:46 PM

A log truck struck and killed a student as she was getting off a school bus on U.S. 421 near Herring Road in Sampson County Tuesday afternoon.

The truck driver did not stop for the warning sign -- as is required by law when a school bus is loading or dropping off children.

He also did not stop after hitting the child.

The child, 7-year-old Alyiah McKenzie Morgan, died on her way to the hospital.

According to reports, the school bus was completely stopped with all of its emergency equipment, including flashing lights, operating at the time of the accident.

Officials with the N.C. State Highway Patrol said troopers located the truck driver, Johnny Allen Spell, 38, 25 miles away in the town of Autryville.

Spell, of 192 Bud Spell Lane in Roseboro, has been charged with hit and run, failure to stop for a school bus and involuntary manslaughter. He was placed under a $200,000 secured bond pending a first appearance.