HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — The woman who went around a stopped school bus, with its stop arm out and lights on, and killed an 8-year-old girl apologized to the child’s family in court Thursday.
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Kaylee Andre said she was sorry after she pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular homicide for the death of Adalynn “Addy” Pierce. Channel 2’s Tom Jones reported she was sentenced to serve eight years in prison.
“I would like to express to the Pierce family how extremely sorry I am,” she said.
Andre was sobbing as she expressed sorrow for going around the stopped school bus, hitting and killing the child.
“I’ve prayed every day that I could take it all back,” she said.
Prosecutors showed video of the incident that happened on Jackson Lake Road in Henry County on Feb. 1, 2024. It showed the bus driver blaring her horn as she saw Andre’s car coming toward Addy as she prepared to cross the road to board her bus.
You could hear the bus driver shriek and someone on the bus say, “Oh my God.”
Andre stood before Superior Court Judge Holly Veal for the hearing and accepted the non-negotiated plea.
“Guilty or not guilty?” the judge asked.
“Guilty,” Andre responded, in tears.
“She was late for work,” her attorney told the judge, describing how temperatures were in the 30s that morning and Andre had frost on her windows.
He said she didn’t intend to hurt anyone.
Addy’s family and friends gave emotional victim impact statements. Addy’s bus driver that day also told the judge how the deadly incident impacted her life.
“I still have nightmares and flashbacks of what happened,” she said.
Addy’s sister says she was taken away too soon.
“I miss her every day and find myself wishing I could tell her updates on my life,” she said.
Addy’s father said he forgives Kaylee.
“I believe my daughter would forgive her if she was here right now. She would say she loves her too and she forgives her,” Kirk Pierce said.
The defense asked the judge to sentence Kaylee to 10 years, with one year served in prison. Prosecutors wanted 15 years to serve 10.
The judge sentenced her to 15 to serve eight.
Andre said her heart goes out to Addy’s family.
“I pray and think about your family every day,” she said.
Deputies placed Andre in handcuffs and took her into custody. Some members of her family cried as that happened. The judge told Andre her license will be suspended, and she will have to attend a victim’s impact panel and risk reduction classes when she gets out.
Addy’s mother says she wanted Andre to accept responsibility earlier so they wouldn’t have to relive what happened in court like they did today.
The Georgia General Assembly passed Addy’s Law in her memory in 2024.
It encouraged school districts to consider bus routes where children don’t have to cross the street to get on a bus on roads with speed limits of 40 miles per hour or more. The law also increased the penalties for drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus.
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- Mother upset after woman accused of hitting, killing 8-year-old girl didn’t take plea deal
- Mom of 8-year-old girl killed by school bus confronts lawmaker who wants to reduce Addy’s Law fines
- What is Addy’s Law? What to know about GA law to protect students getting on school buses
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