4-Year-Old Girl Dies After Being Hit by Officer’s SUV

The Missouri State Patrol is investigating the death of a 4-year-old girl who was struck by an SUV driven by a Columbia police officer.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports the incident happened Friday afternoon at Battle High School when an officer drove on a sidewalk to observe students as they departed. The State Patrol says the officer's SUV hit Gabriella Curry as she walked on the sidewalk.

Gabriella Curry died at a nearby hospital.

Columbia city spokesman Steve Sapp says the girl was at the high school because both her parents drive school buses, and she was riding with one of them. Sapp says it's not immediately clear when or why the girl left the bus.

An officer is regularly assigned to help maintain order during bus loading.