A North Carolina community is mourning the death of a 6-year-old girl who was struck by a car shortly after getting off her school bus. A 17-year-old driver has been charged in connection with the crash after investigators alleged that he left the scene.
Mariana Espinoza, a student at Devonshire Elementary School, was seriously injured in the collision on Friday afternoon, October 23, 2026. She died the following day, according to authorities.
Police later identified Lachevis Finnie, 17, as the suspected driver. He was charged with felony hit-and-run causing death after investigators tracked down a damaged Mercedes-Benz believed to have been involved in the incident.
The case has raised painful questions about pedestrian safety around school bus stops and the dangers children face while traveling between school and home.
What Happened After Mariana Got Off the School Bus?
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said officers were dispatched at approximately 3:21 p.m. Friday after receiving reports that a child had been hit by a vehicle whose driver had left the scene.
When officers arrived, they found Mariana suffering from life-threatening injuries. Emergency responders provided assistance, and she was taken for medical treatment. Despite those efforts, she died on Saturday.
According to reports about the incident, Mariana had just stepped off her school bus near her neighborhood when the collision occurred.
For young children, the moments immediately after leaving a school bus can be especially vulnerable. Children may be focused on getting home, may not fully recognize approaching traffic risks and can be difficult for drivers to see, particularly when vehicles or other obstacles block their view.
Investigators have not publicly established every detail of how Mariana entered the vehicle’s path. The precise circumstances surrounding the collision remain part of the case.
Police Followed Evidence to a Damaged Mercedes-Benz
Investigators worked to identify the vehicle involved in the crash. Police said surveillance cameras captured a gray 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 bearing temporary tags.
The car reportedly had substantial damage to its front grille, providing investigators with a detail they could use when searching for the suspected vehicle.
On Monday, October 26, officers located the Mercedes-Benz and conducted a traffic stop, according to the arrest affidavit. Finnie was driving the vehicle, police said.
Investigators also determined that Finnie did not have a valid driver’s license.
The damaged front of the car, camera footage and information gathered during the investigation helped police connect the vehicle to the fatal collision. Authorities have not publicly detailed every piece of evidence used to establish the connection.
Teen Allegedly Told Police He Was Scared
During questioning, Finnie reportedly told investigators that something had run in front of his vehicle on the day of the crash and that a collision occurred.
According to the arrest affidavit, he acknowledged leaving the scene because he was scared.
Police said he was cooperating with the investigation.
Leaving the scene of a crash involving serious injury or death can have significant criminal consequences. Drivers involved in such collisions are generally expected to stop, provide information and seek emergency assistance when someone may be hurt.
Investigators will need to establish the circumstances of the collision and the driver’s actions afterward as the case proceeds through court.
Finnie has been charged with felony hit-and-run causing death. The charge is an allegation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Judge Sets $2.5 Million Secured Bond
Following his arrest, Finnie was booked into jail. At a court appearance on Tuesday, October 27, a judge set his secured bond at $2.5 million and ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.
His next court appearance was scheduled for November 17.
The secured bond means release generally requires the conditions set by the court to be met, including the required financial security. The mental health evaluation is a separate court-ordered step and does not, by itself, establish that a defendant has a mental health condition or determine guilt.
The proceedings will address the allegations against Finnie and the evidence gathered by police.
Why School Bus Stops Require Extra Caution
The death has brought renewed attention to the risks children face around school transportation areas.
A school bus stop is not automatically a protected space once children step off the bus. Depending on the road layout, children may need to cross streets, walk between parked vehicles or move through areas where drivers have limited visibility.
Safety officials commonly encourage motorists to slow down near school bus stops, watch carefully for children and avoid distractions. Parents and caregivers can also help children practice crossing streets safely and identifying potential traffic hazards.
North Carolina law requires drivers to stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm under the circumstances specified by state law. Those requirements are intended to protect children boarding and leaving buses, although the precise legal duties in any particular incident depend on the circumstances.
Even when children are not directly in front of a stopped bus, motorists should remain alert in residential areas during school arrival and dismissal times.
A Community Left Grieving
Mariana’s death has turned an ordinary school afternoon into a devastating loss for those who knew her. At just 6 years old, she was at the beginning of her school years when the crash cut her life short.
For her family, the immediate focus is the loss of a young child. For investigators, the next steps involve establishing exactly how the collision happened and determining the legal responsibility, if any, supported by the evidence.
The case also serves as a reminder that drivers have a responsibility to remain attentive around neighborhoods, schools and places where children may unexpectedly enter the roadway.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the central questions remain how the collision occurred, why the driver allegedly left the scene and what the evidence will ultimately establish in court.
