Jenna Menias was taken to a hospital after the Tuesday afternoon collision, which remains under investigation by local authorities.
FRANKFORT, IL — A 6-year-old girl died Tuesday after she was struck by a school bus in suburban Frankfort, authorities said, prompting an investigation and an outpouring of grief from school and community officials.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the child as Jenna Menias of Frankfort. Police said officers were called at about 3:24 p.m. Sept. 8 to the 500 block of Aberdeen Road for a collision involving a school bus and a juvenile pedestrian. Officers arrived to find Jenna unresponsive and seriously injured.
Witnesses and first responders immediately began CPR and other lifesaving measures before an ambulance took Jenna to a hospital, according to Frankfort police. She was later pronounced dead. Authorities have not released details explaining how the collision occurred, and police said the investigation remains ongoing.
Jenna was a student in Frankfort School District 157-C. The district told families that the collision occurred during the afternoon student commute and said it was working with the Frankfort Police Department, the Will County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln Way Transportation as authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Several other students were aboard the school bus at the time, police said. No additional injuries were reported. Officials made arrangements for the passengers to be safely reunited with their families after the collision.
The district said the death could have a significant effect on students and staff throughout its schools. It said school support personnel, including teachers and social workers, were available to students who were upset or struggling with the news. Officials also asked the community to respect the privacy of Jenna’s family and others affected by the crash.
Frankfort police described the incident as having a profound impact on the families involved and the wider community. Mayor Keith Ogle also expressed condolences and asked residents to keep Jenna’s family, witnesses and first responders in their thoughts following the fatal collision.
Authorities had not publicly identified the bus driver or announced any citations or criminal charges as of Wednesday morning. Police also had not said whether speed, visibility, the bus route or any other factor contributed to the collision. Those circumstances remain part of the continuing investigation.
Police have asked anyone with information about the crash to contact the Frankfort Police Department. No further investigative findings had been publicly released as of Wednesday.
Author note: Last updated September 9, 2026.