Columbia police officer charged in 4-year-old girl’s death

(AP) A 28-year-old Columbia police officer who struck and killed a 4-year-old girl outside a school has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Andria Heese was charged Monday in the Jan. 4 death of Gabriella Curry outside Battle High School. The girl’s mother was a bus driver for the Columbia district and had taken her along on the route that day. Authorities say Heese drove her police cruiser onto the sidewalk to get a better view of students boarding the bus when she struck Gabriella.

The girl’s parents reached a $3.4 million settlement with the city and a $125,000 settlement with the Columbia school district earlier this year.