Like many eight-year-olds, Harmoney Harper was excited to start the new school year at Oaklawn Elementary School in Wichita, Kansas earlier this month. Although her first day of school was great, Harmoney never made it to her second day, and her family and the local community are devastated. On Wednesday, August 16, Harmoney was waiting for the school bus outside her home with her brother when she was struck by another school bus. First responders quickly arrived at the scene, but Harmoney remained unconscious and died despite attempts at resuscitation. This heartbreaking event occurred around 7:20 a.m., and it is unclear how many students were on the bus during the accident. Authorities confirmed there were no other injuries. Jasper Harper, Harmoney’s father, described the horrific sequence of events, saying, “My wife said she heard my son screaming for his sister, and she went outside. I was awakened by the words, ‘I need you now.’ I got dressed. Before I got to the front door, I heard, ‘Call 911, my daughter is dead.’
She was playing outside her home where she felt safe.” Neighbors were alerted to the tragedy by the screams of Harmoney’s mother, “Oh my God, oh my God, my baby,” something no parent should ever say. One neighbor recalled, “I wish I could hug the mother right now. I wish she knew there are a lot of people praying for her tonight.” Another resident expressed sympathy for Harmoney’s family as well as the bus driver, adding, “I can only imagine what the bus driver is feeling. When I heard the mother scream, ‘Oh my God, oh my God,’ it broke my heart.” Law enforcement said they do not plan to file charges in connection with the incident.
Following the tragic loss of their daughter, Harmoney’s family set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses. The campaign’s description states, “If you are unable to make a donation, please leave prayers and words of encouragement for this family.” At the time of writing, the page had collected 650 donations and received a total of $30,031. In the days following the young girl’s death, members of the Wichita, Kansas community have shared their personal experiences with Harmoney. Oaklawn Elementary School Principal Donna Osborn praised Harmoney, describing her as “full of compliments for everyone around her.”
She added, “Every time you saw her, she had a smile on her face and was always the first to give everyone a hug every day. Her passing is a huge loss, and Harmoney will be greatly missed at Oaklawn.” Superintendent Heather Bohaty also expressed her sadness over the young girl’s death. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students,” she noted, adding that “students and staff are being supported by additional social workers from schools across the district” as they grieve. Our thoughts and prayers are with Harmoney’s family and friends during this tragic time.