On May 25, 2025, a school trip turned tragic when a Form Two student from MaryHill Girls High School, Ruby Zawadi Ndavi, 15, was fatally run over by the school bus shortly after alighting.
The girls had gone to attend a St. John Ambulance function ‘funkie’ at Pioneer School in Maragua.
The girls arrived uneventfully and all, including Ruby stepped off the bus.
Shortly thereafter, the brake of the old school bus malfunctioned, and it began rolling downhill.
How did Ruby Zawadi Ndavi Die?
According to reports, the driver had parked the bus but failed to secure it properly. The bus started moving, and before it could be stopped, it hit Ruby from behind. And crushed her skull under the wheel, killing her instantly.
Three other students were also injured but were treated and later discharged.
The driver reportedly tried but was unable to stop the bus in time once it began rolling. Witnesses say the slope and brake failure gave little chance for intervention.
Sources revealed that concerns about the condition of the bus had been raised before, especially about its faulty brakes, but the school administration ignored the warnings.
Following the incident, the school was accused of trying to cover up the situation. Some reports claim that students who witnessed the accident were not offered psychological support, and the school initially tried to minimize the event.
The Chief Principal of MaryHill Girls High School later sent a message to parents confirming the tragedy. The message stated that Ruby had died in the incident and three other students had been injured but were stable. The school expressed sorrow and promised to update parents as more information became available.
Ruby Zawadi Ndavi is being remembered as a bright, kind, and active student, loved by her classmates and teachers. She was an active St Johns Ambulance club member, and had even flown abroad to represent her school.
A requiem mass was held at the school, and she was buried on Saturday, June 7.
Authorities are now investigating the cause of the accident, and the school has said it will cooperate fully with the process.
By Vivian K.