School bus driver dead after struck by school bus in Virginia bus lot

BRISTOW, Va. - A school bus driver has died after officials say he was struck and killed by a school bus that was backing up in a bus lot in Virginia Monday morning.

Police say that the victim, 62-year-old Richard Profitt was struck and killed at the scene.

A statement released by Prince William County Schools officials says the incident happened as a bus was backing out of the service bay at the McCuin Transportation Center on Piney Branch Lane in Bristow, Virginia at around 7:30 a.m.

The buses are all outfitted with loud audible warning signals when a bus goes into reverse. There has so far been no explanation from the school system or police as to why Proffitt was standing behind the bus and why he may not have heard the bus coming.

Drivers tell FOX 5 Proffitt drove routes to Battlefield High school, Haymarket Elementary and Reagan Middle School. They say he lived in Manassas with his wife, who is also a school bus driver.

Police spent several hours at the McCuin lot processing the scene, but so far no charges have been filed.

The driver of the bus, a 60-year-old man from Nokesville, was not injured. No children were on the bus at the time of the accident.

In 911 calls released, the operator can be heard describing the process the revive the victim.

"Pedestrian was hit by a bus. Patient is also unconscious. They have CPR in progress."

"I do know he has driven for the division for probably about a decade, and for the people here this is really a tragic loss, I mean this was a friend, this was a colleague, in some ways this is a family member of our school family. We've got counselors working in there to help them through the situation. We have counselors going out to some of the affected schools," said Phil Kravits with Prince William County Schools.

A statement from Prince William County Schools reads:

"We are sad to report that a PWCS bus driver was killed this morning by a bus reportedly backing out of the service bay at McCuin Transportation Center. An investigation is underway.

We are withholding the name pending full notification of family members. A Critical Incident Team was dispatched to provide support to those dealing with the sad news. We are all saddened by the loss of our PWCS family member and our thoughts are with his family, friends, coworkers and student passengers."

The investigation is still continuing at this time.