Boy, 11, killed on road

Matamata Intermediate was last night grieving the death of a pupil hit by a car after stepping off the school bus outside his house.

The 11-year-old was one of about a dozen students from the local primary and intermediate schools to take the bus home to the outskirts of town yesterday afternoon.

Other children on the bus saw the youngster hit by a car as he ran across the road to his house on Tower Rd.

It is believed he died at the scene.

Sergeant Neil Mansill of the Matamata- Piako strategic traffic unit said the boy appeared to have crossed the road into the path of a car travelling in the opposite direction that had struck him, causing fatal injuries

The 17km stretch of road was closed for several hours as residents returned from work.

The Waikato serious crash unit is investigating the incident and is appealing for anyone who may have seen what happened to come forward.

Waikato police are working with the schools that had pupils on the bus and the Ministry of Education to provide victim support and counselling for those affected.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mr Mansill at the Matamata police station on (07) 888-7117.