NJ - School bus aide charged after Franklin student, 6, strangled by wheelchair seatbelt, 17 July 2023

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A woman is facing charges after a 6-year-old child in a wheelchair died following a school bus ride in New Jersey on Monday morning.

Prosecutors say she was suffocated by the harness that secured her chair onboard and the bus monitor who was hired to help protect her is now facing charges.

The child with special needs was attending an extended school program at the Claremont School in Franklin Township when she was picked up Monday morning.

Police say the bus hit a series of bumps on the road, causing Williams to slump in her wheelchair. The four-point harness that secured her to the chair ended up blocking her airway.


During the ride, the school bus monitor, Amanda Davila, was seated towards the front of the bus and was utilizing a cellular telephone while wearing earbud headphone devices in both ears.

On July 19, 2023, because of this investigation, Defendant Davila was placed under arrest at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office without incident.

Defendant Davila was charged with 2nd-degree, Manslaughter, and 2nd-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Defendant Davila was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

UPDATE: Woman Charged with Death of Child on Franklin Township School Bus

By: Richard L. Smith Somerset County officials reported the arrest of Ms. Amanda Davila, 27, of New Brunswick, in relation to circumstances surrounding a school bus ride in Franklin Township on Monday, July 17, 2023, which led to a child’s death.

www.rlsmedia.com

6-year-old child in wheelchair dies after school bus ride in New Jersey

A bus aide is facing manslaughter charges after a 6-year-old child died following a school bus ride in New Jersey on Monday morning.

abc7ny.com

 

[LadyL]

so sorry baby girl
fly high with the angels for you are one of them now

 

[imstilla.grandma]

An investigation revealed that the bus monitor, 27-year-old Amanda Davila, secured the child in her wheelchair at the rear of a school bus on Monday, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said.

During the bus ride, a series of bumps in the road caused the 6-year-old to “slump in her wheelchair seat,” which led the harness securing her to the chair to become tight around her neck, eventually blocking her airway, the prosecutor’s office said.

Davila was seated toward the front of the bus, using her cellphone with headphones in both ears, during this time, according to the office. “The investigation revealed that this was in violation of policies and procedures,” it said.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/21/us/student-bus-death-new-jersey-manslaughter-charge/index.html

"She did not deserve this, to be taken away from us in such a way that had nothing to do with her condition," said her mother Namjah Nash.

Williams was diagnosed with a rare chromosome disability called Emanuel Syndrome called when she was 3 months old. She went through multiple surgeries and met every challenge with dignitary and a smile.

"My daughter, she can't speak, she's helpless, she can't even take the harness off, she can't take the seat belt off, the only thing she can do is move her arms," her father Wali Williams said.

The 6-year-old was nonverbal but made sounds. No one saw her slump in her wheelchair during the ride.

6-year-old child in wheelchair dies after school bus ride in New Jersey

A bus aide is facing manslaughter charges after a 6-year-old child died following a school bus ride in New Jersey on Monday morning.

abc7ny.com

Ms. Nash, who works in the quality assurance department of Motivcare, a company that brokers nonemergency medical transportation, said that she was “devastated” to learn that the bus monitor had been on her phone, and had her earbuds in.

“It was very hurtful,” Ms. Nash said. “It was very distasteful.”

She wants to know the ratio of aides to children, and the protocol for making sure that a wheelchair is secure before the bus pulls off.

Ms. Nash urged the Board of Education to thoroughly vet the transportation companies which they contract with “to ensure that they’re going to take care of our children.”

“There’s only so much that parents can do,” she said.

6-Year-Old Suffocated and Bus Monitor Didn’t Notice, Prosecutor Says

The girl, who was unable to speak, was in a wheelchair at the back of the bus, and the monitor had her earbuds in. A New Jersey prosecutor charged the woman with manslaughter.

www.nytimes.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[sds71]

School bus monitor released after hearing in death of 6-year-old child in wheelchair in NJ

Prosecutors argued that Amanda Davila would be a flight risk and poses a threat to children. But her lawyer argued she has never been in trouble with the law.

abc7ny.com

A New Jersey school bus monitor charged in connection with the death of a young student in a wheelchair has been released from custody with several conditions following a detention hearing Tuesday morning.

Court documents allege 27-year-old Amanda Davila sat with headphones in, looking at her phone for 14 minutes as the 6-year-old girl she was hired to help protect struggled for her life just feet away.

 

[Ebon]

Special Needs New Jersey Girl Suffocates to Death While Bus Monitor Uses Phone

The mother of a 6-year-old New Jersey girl who died on a school bus last month is speaking out and says the tragedy could have been prevented, ABC News reports. On July 17, Fajr Atiya Williams was in her wheelchair on the bus when bumps on Franklin Township’s roads moved her body and led her …

www.crimeonline.com

On July 17, Fajr Atiya Williams was in her wheelchair on the bus when bumps on Franklin Township’s roads moved her body and led her to slump, causing a harness to tighten around her neck and block her breathing.

Subsequent investigation determined that Williams, who was nonverbal, “struggled violently for her life” and in at least two instances “made a shriek or gasp and at one point kicked the window of the bus,” according to court records obtained by NJ.com.

 

[DeDee]

6-year-old New Jersey student who died after a seat belt became wrapped around her neck on a school bus last week “struggled violently for her life” before losing consciousness while a bus monitor sat a few feet away looking at her phone and wearing ear buds for 14 minutes

[Amanda] Davila is charged with manslaughter and child endangerment charges.

Davila brought Fajr aboard the bus operated by Montauk Transit at her Franklin Township home at 8:29 a.m. on July 17 [timeline follows]

N.J. student suffocated by seat belt as bus monitor stared at phone for 14 mins, cops say

 

[DeDee]

6-year-old New Jersey student who died after a seat belt became wrapped around her neck on a school bus last week “struggled violently for her life” before losing consciousness while a bus monitor sat a few feet away looking at her phone and wearing ear buds for 14 minutes

[Amanda] Davila is charged with manslaughter and child endangerment charges.

Davila brought Fajr aboard the bus operated by Montauk Transit at her Franklin Township home at 8:29 a.m. on July 17 [timeline follows]

N.J. student suffocated by seat belt as bus monitor stared at phone for 14 mins, cops say

Fajr lost consciousness 8:48 a.m., but Davila didn’t see her until 9:02 a.m. when the bus arrived at Claremont Elementary School at 9:02 a.m.

This is so tragic! Children with Needs always - that means constantly within reason- rely upon help and assistance. The caretaker's lackadaisical attitude led to the death of this child. There was no malice intent. It's neglect.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

As opening arguments began, assistant prosecutor Mike McLaughlin told jurors that Amanda Davila, “had one job and she didn’t do it. All she had to do for a half hour was watch after this little girl, Fajr Williams…She had one job and she didn’t do it and because she didn’t do it, Fajr Williams is dead.”

Immediately after opening arguments, jurors watched a video that showed the 6-year-old on board that bus in July 2023 as it was driving to the Claremont School in Franklin Township. It showed Davila boarding the bus with Williams - who is in a wheelchair – and appeared alert and happy.

It also showed Davila leaving the child to go sit in the front of the bus. She is seen wearing earbuds and looking at her phone, allegedly breaking the rules of her training, according to the prosecutor.

Opening arguments begin in trial of bus aide accused in death of 6-year-old girl

The trial is expected to last between a week and 10 days, with Davila facing a potential prison sentence of 5-10 years if convicted.

newjersey.news12.com

*"The video will show how Fajr struggled for her life while the defendant scrolled Instagram," Somerset County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael McLaughlin said.

The prosecution also played interrogation video in court. Fajr's mom says she spoke with Davila after the tragedy.

"She said, 'I usually check on her, but today, I didn't,'" Nash said.

Trial begins for New Jersey school bus aide charged in 6-year-old girl's death

The trial began Tuesday for a New Jersey school bus aide charged in the death of a 6-year-old student with special needs.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[ChatteringBirds]

This is heart-breaking.

If your job is to supervise a special-needs child on a bus, you should be interacting with that child. Even if a child is nonverbal, you can talk to them, sing to them, read them a story, be part if their education.
These kids deserve loving care.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A Somerset County jury on Monday found Amanda Davila guilty on one count of endangering the welfare of a child in the death of young Fajr Williams, who lived with a rare chromosomal disorder called Emanuel syndrome, was nonverbal, and required the use of a wheelchair.

Bus monitor who played on phone as 6-year-old suffocated in wheelchair learns her fate

Amanda Davila was found guilty of child endangerment in New Jersey after a 6-year-old girl in her care was strangled to death by her wheelchair straps.

lawandcrime.com