NEW HAVEN, CT — A New Haven elementary student died after she was found unresponsive on a school bus earlier this week, and now city leaders are taking action and demanding answers.
The child was an 8-year-old girl, and her grandmother was waiting for her to get off of the bus at the end of the day.
That is when the lifeless body of the Lincoln Bassett School student was found.
Now, Alderman Brenda Foskey-Cyrus and some of her colleagues want something done.
“The way I’m looking at it, this is a public safety issue,” Foskey-Cyrus said. “It’s just devastating. I have no words for it.”
She said she talked to the student’s grandmother on the phone, and said the family is distraught, according to WFSB
“She appeared to be really devastated and she doesn’t know what to do,” Foskey-Cyrus said.
She said the 8-year-old was rushing to make the bus after school on Tuesday.
After that, nobody really knows what happened and nobody called 911.
“Apparently the grandmother was waiting for her, I don’t know if she took her body or took the girl halfway lifeless or I don’t know,” Foskey-Cyrus said.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. An investigation into the matter was immediately launched and we are working closely with First Student Bus Company,” the school district said in a statement.
The school is also working with the bus company to look at policies and procedures, and officials said they want more training for bus drivers.
“They should be trained more properly on how to deal with an injured child,” Foskey-Cyrus said.
It is still unknown how the girl died, and Foskey-Cyrus said she heard the bus driver is currently on leave.
The bus company said they were looking into the matter and working with the district. They said they did not know if a camera was on that bus, but most buses do have cameras.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, the school and the community during this difficult time. The safety and well-being of our students is always a priority for us. We are currently reviewing the matter with New Haven Public Schools.” the bus company said in a statement.
A crisis team of social workers are at the school to support students and staff as well.
