Child Had Fatal Fall Off School Bus, Family Wants Answers
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--The family of a little boy who died falling off a moving school bus is demanding to know how that could possibly happen.
They tell Andrea Fujii the special education student should have been wearing a restraint.
The mother and grandmother of Jeremy Jennings met WJZ on Saturday outside Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was taken off life support. They want answers about who is responsible for the 6-year-old's death.
Jeremy, who had behavioral problems, was on a city school bus with four other special needs children. A bus driver and two aides were also on board when he got in a fight with another child and somehow came flying out the emergency door of the moving bus Wednesday.
"Somebody needs to step up, be honest and tell the truth about really what happened the day my grandson fell off the back of this bus," said Jeremy's grandmother Trina Avery.
"I have really not enough answers as to why my son is dead," said Lisa Avery, Jeremy's mother. "I really just have bits and pieces. Nobody can fill those blanks."
The school system has suspended the employees on board the bus, but the family says it's not enough. There are questions about whether the aides should be better trained.
His mother says Jeremy was supposed to be restrained on the bus, so why then was he allowed to run around?
"I have no clue at all,"said Lisa Avery, "and that is what I want to find out. Why was he was not supervised at the time?"
Four mothers tell WJZ problems with safety on buses with emotionally disturbed children are widespread.
"I have had a problem with transportation for over two years and have been complaining to Baltimore City, to the schools and the bus company. Nothing has been done," said Shemel Smith, parent.
Could Jeremy's death have been avoided?
"I'm sure it could have been avoided if they followed proper procedure," Smith said. "The procedure is if the child is out of their seat, the bus is to stop moving."
The school system isn't commenting on these issues, and the State Department of Education tells WJZ that it doesn't have oversight of transportation issues.
The child's family says police have subpoenaed a video tape from on board the bus to see first-hand what happened before his death.
