# Boy aged 17 driving Mercedes struck and killed six-year-old girl getting off school bus then drove on, cops say

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/boy-aged-17-driving-mercedes-struck-and-killed-six-year-old-girl-getting-off-school-bus-then-drove-on-cops-say/
- Published: 2026-10-28T15:02:34+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T15:15:38+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16245657/girl-school-bus-hit-run-car-north-carolina-teen-boy-driver.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- Six-year-old Mariana Espinoza died after being struck in Charlotte.
- Police say the 17-year-old driver left the scene.
- The accused faces a felony hit-and-run charge.

## Summary

Police say a 17-year-old driver struck and killed six-year-old Mariana Espinoza as she crossed a Charlotte street after getting off her school bus, then left without calling emergency services. The case has drawn attention to the circumstances of the fatal collision and the allegation that the driver fled.

Espinoza, a Devonshire Elementary School pupil, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died the next day. Police say Lachevis Finnie was arrested on Monday and charged with felony hit-and-run resulting in death; court filings say he admitted striking the child and said he fled because he was scared. His bond was set at $2.5 million, and another filing said he did not have a valid driving licence.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.