Boy Held in Deadly School Bus Accident
By Associated Press
Tue May 23, 9:35 AM
NEW YORK - An 8-year-old boy was in custody after he sneaked onto a school bus and released its parking brake, causing it to roll forward and fatally strike a second-grader, police said Tuesday.
Officer Doris Garcia had said the boy was to be charged with criminally negligent homicide. But police later directed followup queries to the city's corporation counsel, which would handle the case if it goes to family court.
That office was still examining the issue Tuesday, said spokeswoman Kate Ahlers. The boy's name was being withheld because of his age.
Amber Sadiq, 8, was crossing the street near her school Monday afternoon when she was struck by the bus in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights.
"She tried to run but the garbage can was in the way," said 12-year-old Kassandra Polanco, who saw the bus bearing down on the girl.
Councilwoman Letitia James, who represents parts of Brooklyn, said a "concerned citizen" saw two boys _ the 8-year-old and a 10-year-old _ climbing into the bus through the emergency door, which does not lock.
The woman removed the boys from the bus, and then at some point the bus started rolling down the street, James said.
Keith Kalb, a spokesman for the Department of Education, said the bus driver, who worked for Jofaz Transportation, had finished his rounds and was on his lunch break.
Deli worker Sam Ahmad said he saw the girl under the bus and called 911. He said he and about a dozen other men tried to lift the yellow bus to free her but it was too heavy.
By Associated Press
Tue May 23, 9:35 AM
NEW YORK - An 8-year-old boy was in custody after he sneaked onto a school bus and released its parking brake, causing it to roll forward and fatally strike a second-grader, police said Tuesday.
Officer Doris Garcia had said the boy was to be charged with criminally negligent homicide. But police later directed followup queries to the city's corporation counsel, which would handle the case if it goes to family court.
That office was still examining the issue Tuesday, said spokeswoman Kate Ahlers. The boy's name was being withheld because of his age.
Amber Sadiq, 8, was crossing the street near her school Monday afternoon when she was struck by the bus in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights.
"She tried to run but the garbage can was in the way," said 12-year-old Kassandra Polanco, who saw the bus bearing down on the girl.
Councilwoman Letitia James, who represents parts of Brooklyn, said a "concerned citizen" saw two boys _ the 8-year-old and a 10-year-old _ climbing into the bus through the emergency door, which does not lock.
The woman removed the boys from the bus, and then at some point the bus started rolling down the street, James said.
Keith Kalb, a spokesman for the Department of Education, said the bus driver, who worked for Jofaz Transportation, had finished his rounds and was on his lunch break.
Deli worker Sam Ahmad said he saw the girl under the bus and called 911. He said he and about a dozen other men tried to lift the yellow bus to free her but it was too heavy.
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