12-year-old dies in sledding accident

March 07, 2001

12-year-old dies in sledding accident

By STACEY DANZUSO / Staff Writer, Chambersburg

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - A Warren Township, Pa., youngster was pronounced dead Tuesday morning following a sledding accident Monday afternoon, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Marvin Michael Busby, 12, was sledding down a hill near his home with his brother at around 3:55 p.m. Monday when he entered the path of a pickup truck on Little Cove Road, Trooper Terry Pennington said.

The youngster was taken to York County (Pa.) Hospital, where he was pronounced dead Tuesday morning, police said.

The Ford F-150 pickup was identified by police as Brian W. Stanionis, 29, of Mercersburg.

He was not injured and no charges were filed, Pennington said.

Extra counselors were on hand Tuesday at James Buchanan Middle School, where Marvin attended seventh grade, said Robert Morris, a guidance counselor.

"We had guidance counselors on alert to look for reactions. Most students wanted to know when the funeral was," Morris said.

"Some of the kids who ate lunch with him every day were particularly upset," he said. "Any time something like this happens, especially at the middle school age, it's difficult for them to understand."

Schools were closed Monday in anticipation of a severe snowstorm that ended up dropping only a few inches on Franklin County.

Pennington said parents of children of any age should be vigilant about checking out where their children plan to ride their sleds.

"They should check to see where their kids are sledding and if there are any hazards in the path and if the end of the path is a safe distance off the roadway," he said.

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