INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - A prayer service was held in Fishers Tuesday evening and 18-year-old Fatima Hassuneh was laid to rest, just a day after the IUPUI student was struck and killed by a school bus while crossing a busy intersection on campus.
Her family has asked for prayers and privacy. But a former teacher described Fatima as an outstanding student with great compassion. Fatima wanted to carry on the tradition of becoming a doctor, like her father and older sister.
Police believe that Fatima had the right of way to cross New York Street Monday afternoon around 1:30 p.m. A bus traveling south on University Boulevard turned left onto New York Street and hit Fatima. The Marion County Coroner ruled Fatima died from multiple blunt force injuries.
"Honestly, it happens a lot where cars almost hit you, so I've learned to make sure no one else is coming before I cross the road, because I don't want to get hit," said Gabbi Bratton, an IUPUI sophomore nursing student. "You have to be really careful just watching for cars. They don't see you, even if you do have the right of way. There are a lot of close calls. I've seen people get hit on their bikes before. It just makes me nervous, especially since she passed from the accident. That's terrible. You really have to watch out for that."
The bus is owned and operated and driven by an employee of Durham School Services under contract to IPS. No students were on the bus at the time of the accident. The bus driver is off the road while police and Durham complete their investigations. No charges have been filed in what IUPUI calls a tragic accident.
IUPUI students received a tragic reminder of the potential danger of a busy downtown campus intersection.
"We have to be aware of our surroundings," said IUPUI graduate student Roha Pawar. "What is coming in and out? We just have to look at the traffic signals while crossing the roads and make sure that nothing is coming in our way while crossing the pedestrian walk."
"Well it's pretty safe unless you are on the phone," said IUPUI graduate student Akshay Joshi. "You just look around and cross the road. Then it's pretty safe. But if you are on the phone, then we don't know."
Eman Schools in Fishers canceled classes for the day to allow friends and family of Fatimah to grieve. The 18-year-old graduated from the small private school in 2016. Two younger siblings and nine cousins attend Eman Schools.