COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
The funeral is Tuesday for a first grader who was hit and killed in a street near his school.
Seven-year-old Joshua Brown's funeral is Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Bostick Tompkins Funeral Home in Columbia. Visitation is Monday from 6-8 p.m.
"I miss my baby," said Brown's mother, Wilhelmenia Groom. "I'd give anything. This house is not a home without Joshua."
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said Brown was struck by the truck after he ran into the road near Watkins-Nance Elementary School after school.
Brown was transported by EMS to Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital where he died, Watts said. An autopsy conducted Thursday morning shows that the boy died from multiple trauma associated with being struck by the vehicle.
Columbia Police Department spokesperson Jennifer Timmons says a school crossing guard said the pick-up truck that hit Brown was driven slowly through the school zone shortly before the accident.
Groom said Brown had no business being in front of the school. She said he was supposed to be waiting for his after-school day care van to pick him up in the back of the school.
Richland One School District officials say Brown had a substitute teacher Wednesday who was not aware of the district's after school dismissal policy.
"I'm not angry at anybody" said Groom. "I don't hate nobody. I want the truth."
The school says it is conducting an internal investigation.
Timmons says CPD has not charged the driver with anything at this time.
Richland One Superintendent Dr. Percy Mack released the following statement Thursday morning:
"The entire Richland One family is shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of a young life. One of our students, Joshua Brown, who was a first-grader at Watkins-Nance Elementary School, died after being struck by a vehicle near the school Wednesday afternoon.
District crisis teams, which include guidance counselors, psychologists and social workers, are at Watkins-Nance and neighboring schools to provide counseling and any other assistance that may be needed during this difficult time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Joshua's family and with Principal Dr. Evelyn Cohens and her students, faculty and staff at Watkins-Nance."
School flags were lowered to half-staff Thursday.
The public is welcome to attend Brown's funeral.
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Joshua Brown
The accident scene.
