New York State Police continue investigating an incident in which a Dansville Central School District student was injured. It happened Wednesday in the Livingston County town of Ossian. The student's backpack got caught in the door of a school bus and was dragged 900 feet.

State Police say an eight-year-old Dansville Elementary School student is fortunate to have only suffered scrapes and bruises after she was dragged 900 feed by a school bus Wednesday afternoon.

It happened on State Route 436. The girl, who police identified as eight-year-old Haley Heath, was exiting the bus with her two sisters.

The bus driver, 62-year-old John Coley, told police he became distracted, closed the door and drove off. Police said Coley was unaware Haley's backpack was caught in the bus door until other students screamed for him to stop.

"We believe that the bus was traveling at a pretty low rate of speed and she may have actually been dangling as opposed to being dragged. I think being dragged is a very dramatic term. I think she may have been off the ground, maybe her feet moving," said Mark O’Donnell of the New York State Police.

Dansville Central School District officials say they are conducting their own investigation and believe this accident could have been avoided.

"This was a preventable accident. It was very difficult to look into the eyes of a mother after this incident had occurred and ensure her that her daughter will be safe in the future. Never the less, you sit down and have that very difficult conversation and you want to make sure that the child feels safe in any environment," said Dr. Paul Alioto, superintendent.

Alioto said this accident has prompted the district to review its bus driver policies and procedures.

"The typical procedure is for the bus to come to a stop, apply the air brakes, open the door, permit the students to exit the bus, watch and make sure that they are at least 15 feet away before then closing the door, releasing the air brake, checking the sideview mirror for oncoming traffic and when it's clear pulling away from the scene,” Alioto said.

Coley has been placed on administrative leave without pay pending the district's investigation.

State Police say no charges will be filed as no laws were violated.

The district says Coley has been driving for the Dansville Central School District for the past eight years and has a clean driving record.