4-year-old dies after being hit by CPD vehicle

A four-year girl has died after being hit by a Columbia Police Department vehicle at Battle High School.

The Highway Patrol says Gabriella Curry was pronounced dead soon after the accident in a parking lot roundabout at about 4 p.m. Friday.

Officer Andria Heese, 27, was apparently trying to park her police SUV on the sidewalk to observe the students getting on school buses. Troopers say she hit the little girl that was on the sidewalk.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Major Crash Investigation Unit is now looking into what happened. Officer Heese is on administrative leave from CPD.

(This story was last updated at 6:12 a.m. Saturday.)