INDIANAPOLIS -- A school bus struck and killed a 10-year-old boy outside an elementary school on Indianapolis' north side Friday morning.

Police were called to Spring Mill Elementary School, in the 8200 block of Spring Mill Road, at about 8 a.m.

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Investigators said fourth-grader Christopher Beltz had just gotten off bus No. 42 after it arrived at school at the same time bus No. 97 was dropping off students at a curb nearby.

A bank of parked cars and bus No. 97 was between the victim and the school building.

"When the child ran out of the bus, he darted between the parked cars. As the other bus was leaving after dropping off the student, he ran right in front of the bus," said Indianapolis police Lt. Jeff Duhamell.

Beltz was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers went to the child's home to inform the family about what had happened.

"You can't even voice the sorrow you feel today and the loss the ... Spring Mill community feels," said Washington Township Schools Superintendent Dr. James Mervilde. "Our hearts and prayers are with the student and the family."

School officials sent a message to all students of the school district regarding the incident. Some parents chose to come to school and take their children home.

"Any time someone loses a child, it makes you appreciate what you have," said Maurice Bogle, parent of another Spring Mill student. "I just wanted to come and get him and let him know I love him."

Bogle's son, Caleb, 8, had a starkly mature view of what had happened to the victim.

"I think it was a really terrible thing, but I think God has a reason for it," Caleb Bogle said.

Grief counselors were made available to students and faculty members who knew the boy.

Investigators are checking the bus and will do drug tests of the drivers, per normal procedure following an incident.

"You can imagine the tragedy, even with the bus drivers -- very upset," Duhamell said.

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