NORTHWOOD, Iowa — A 7-year-old girl was struck and killed by a truck Tuesday morning as she walked across the road to board a Northwood-Kensett school bus.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, the bus had stopped facing northbound shortly after 7:45 a.m. near the driveway of the girl’s babysitter at 4336 Raven Avenue just north of 430th Street.

Lights were flashing on the bus and the stop arm was extended when a 2002 Chevy pickup traveling south failed to stop for the school bus stop sign and then struck Kadyn J. Halverson, of Northwood.

The driver, who has been identified as Aaron Dwayne Gunderson, 31, of Northwood, fled the scene and was apprehended by Worth County Sheriff’s Office deputies about two miles away. He spent Tuesday in jail in Northwood.

A spokeswoman for the Iowa State Patrol said the babysitter and the children on the bus witnessed the pickup hit the girl.

The Iowa State Patrol spokeswoman said the incident remains under investigation. Charges are pending.

Northwood-Kensett Community Schools Superintendent Thomas Nugent said the district is working in collaboration with law enforcement and awaited their go-ahead before releasing much other information.

“Our community is going through a time of grief, and we are providing crisis assistance for our students and our faculty,” Nugent said.