| Quick Answer On Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 11-year-old Torren O’Grady, a sixth grader at North Stonington Elementary School in Connecticut, was killed after his bicycle collided with a school bus that was turning left onto Pinecrest Road. Connecticut State Police say the bus’s front left wheel struck him. No charges have been announced, and the investigation is still open. The school district has offered grief counselling to students and families. |
A tragic North Stonington school bus crash has left the local community in deep mourning following the loss of an 11-year-old student. The devastating incident occurred on Wednesday morning as the young cyclist was on his way to school, sparking immediate police investigations and widespread emotional support across the town.
What Happened on Old Colony Road
At around 8:27 a.m. on Wednesday, 2 September, Connecticut State Police were called to the intersection of Old Colony Road and Pinecrest Road in North Stonington. According to troopers, a school bus and a boy on a bicycle were both travelling east on Old Colony Road. As the bus began turning left onto Pinecrest Road, the bicycle collided with the bus’s front left wheel.
The boy, later identified by the school district as Torren O’Grady, an 11-year-old sixth grader at North Stonington Elementary School, suffered fatal injuries. The crash happened less than a mile from his school and just minutes before the start of the school day.
State police have not said publicly whether the bus driver, identified as a 76-year-old local man, came to a full stop or used a turn signal before making the turn. No charges have been filed against the driver as of now, and investigators are still asking anyone who witnessed the crash, or who has dashcam or doorbell video of the area, to come forward.
How the School and Community Responded
North Stonington Public Schools dismissed students early on the day of the crash. In a statement, the district said counsellors and emotional support dogs would be made available at the elementary school for students, families, and staff in the days that followed. Nearby Stonington’s acting superintendent also reached out to his own district’s families, noting how closely the two communities are connected.
Torren was a longtime member of Stonington Bears Youth Lacrosse. The club asked the community to leave a porch light on, and a lacrosse stick out if they had one, as a small gesture of remembrance. Local churches, including the Congregational Church of North Stonington, opened their doors for anyone who needed a place to grieve or pray.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont also issued a statement expressing condolences to the O’Grady family and asked drivers across the state to slow down and take extra care around school buses, school zones, and children travelling to and from school.
Where the Investigation Stands Now
As of this week, the crash remains under active investigation by Connecticut State Police, with support from the State Department of Education. Investigators are working to establish exactly how the collision unfolded, including whether the bus driver followed proper turning procedure and whether the bicycle entered the intersection as the bus was already turning.
The school bus company involved, M&J Bus Inc., has not issued a public comment. No timeline has been given for when the investigation might conclude, and it’s common for cases like this to take weeks or months before any findings, or possible charges, are announced.
Why This Story Matters Beyond North Stonington
Incidents like this understandably raise wider questions about how safe the walk, bike ride, or bus stop wait really is for children heading to school. Right-turn and left-turn blind spots around large vehicles like school buses are a well-documented risk, and road safety researchers have long pushed for wider adoption of extra mirrors, sensors, and driver training focused specifically on cyclists and pedestrians near turns.
For parents locally, this is also a moment many schools use to revisit basic safety habits with children: riding bicycles at a safe distance from buses, never riding directly behind or beside one, and making eye contact with a driver before crossing in front of any vehicle.
Key Takeaways
- Torren O’Grady, 11, died on 2 September 2026 after his bike collided with a turning school bus in North Stonington, CT
- The crash happened just before the start of the school day, less than a mile from his school
- No charges have been announced; the investigation by Connecticut State Police is ongoing
- The school district has offered counselling and support resources to students and families
- Officials are using the tragedy to renew calls for extra caution around school buses and cyclists
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Torren O’Grady?
Torren O’Grady was an 11-year-old sixth grader at North Stonington Elementary School in Connecticut. He was a longtime member of Stonington Bears Youth Lacrosse.
When and where did the crash happen?
The crash happened around 8:27 a.m. on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, at the intersection of Old Colony Road and Pinecrest Road in North Stonington, Connecticut.
Has the bus driver been charged?
No. As of the latest reports, no charges have been filed against the 76-year-old bus driver, and the investigation by Connecticut State Police is still ongoing.
What support has the school district offered?
North Stonington Public Schools dismissed students early on the day of the crash and has made counsellors and emotional support dogs available at the elementary school for students, families, and staff.
Was anyone else hurt in the crash?
No other injuries have been reported. It has not been confirmed whether other students were on board the bus at the time.
