Tragedy: 17-year old girl dies on field trip after semi slams Arizona school bus

Nineteen people were abord the school bus, which was struck 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning after it was rear-ended by a semi on Interstate 40 near milepost 328, just outside the city of Sanders, according to the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS).

DPS officials said the semi slammed into the school bus, pushing it into a van, leading traffic to a halt.

The 17-year old girl, Kiarra Gordon was a student of the Holbrook Indian School who was on a field trip with classmates to Window Rock, New Mexico when the tragic accident occurred.

“This is a very sad day for the Holbrook Indian School community, one of our students died, and six others were injured in a school bus accident this morning,” said the school in a statement released to local FOX 10 News. “According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, our school bus slowed down in traffic near another crash when the bus was struck from behind by a semi-truck. Our bus was pushed into the vehicle in front of it.

“The bus was transporting a group of staff and students on a field trip to Window Rock, New Mexico. Our concerns now are for our parents and families as we uphold and grieve with them.  We ask that you would be patient and respectful as we work through this as a school community, and we solicit your prayers on behalf of everyone impacted by this tragedy.”

The girl’s aunt, Falonna Ashley identified her niece and told area news that the girl had just celebrated her 17-year old birthday in July, highlighting her love for animals, film and sports.

“She had a beautiful soul,” Ashley said. “She’s from Wide Ruins, a small community on the Navajo Nation. She was focused on education and was thinking about what to do after high school.”

The Navajo Nation released a statement on Twitter on Sunday.

“As the community is feeling from the loss or a local youth and injury of several more in a tragic accident on I-40 this morning. Navajo County Supervisors in partnership with the City of Holbrook express their profound condolences and concern. The true beauty of rural Navajo Count is our tight-knit communities, and each loss is a ripple felt by all.

"We offer our deepest condolences, as our thoughts and prayers are sent to those directly impacted by this morning’s tragic accident. We also join our friends and neighbors as we work together to support those in need at this crucial time. We send sincere gratitude to the first responders no came together across agencies to aid those in need.”