Five children killed, several injured by drivers at bus stops while going to school this week

Careless drivers killed at least five children and injured several more while the kids were attempting to get to school this week.

Incidents in Indiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Pennsylvania have placed a spotlight on the problem of distracted driving across the U.S., CNN reported.

Here's what happened:

Thursday

On Thursday, a 7-year-old boy from Franklin Township in central Pennsylvania was found dead on the side of the road near his home after he was run over by a slow-moving vehicle, according to published reports.

"Evidence has shown that the child was run over at a slow speed," Pennsylvania State Police Troop G wrote on Twitter. "A search warrant was obtained for a vehicle that was in the area at the time. The driver has been interviewed."

In Tampa, Florida, five children and two adults were injured after a car hit pedestrians at a school bus stop, police reported. One child is in critical condition, police spokesman Eddy Durkin told CNN. None of the injuries are considered life-threatening. The children reportedly range in age from 6 to 12 years old.

A 47-year-old man driving a Ford Escort reportedly hit the group on the side of the street. The driver stayed at the scene and was not charged, according to the report.

Wednesday

A 9-year-old was struck and killed Wednesday north of Tupelo, Mississippi, as he attempted to cross the road and board a school bus, Mississippi Highway Patrol Capt. Johnny Poulos told CNN.

The driver that allegedly struck the child was identified as Hunter Newman, 22, of Marietta, Mississippi. Newman was charged with one count of aggravated assault and bond was set at $10,000, according to the report.

Also, a 19-year-old driver in Tallahassee, Florida, hit and injured a kindergartner who was crossing the street to board a school bus, WCTV-TV reported.

The driver “realized too late that the bus was stopped with arm extended,” according to the report. The driver, who was not identified, was given two traffic citations, the Leon County Sheriff's Office told the TV station. The child was listed in good condition on Wednesday.

Tuesday

In Rochester, Indiana, 9-year-old Alivia Stahl and her twin 6-year-old brothers, Mason and Xzavier Ingle, were fatally struck by a pickup truck as they crossed the street to their bus stop in the morning, police told WRTV-TV.

Alivia reportedly held her brothers’ hands and attempted to shield them from the truck.

Another student injured in the incident was airlifted to a hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the TV station reported.

The driver of a Toyota Tacoma, Alyssa Shepherd, 24, of Rochester, Indiana, was arrested on three counts of felony reckless homicide and one misdemeanor charge of passing a school bus with the arm extended. She was being held in the Fulton County Jail on $15,000 bond, according to The Associated Press.