Mississippi family suing after they say 5-year-old boy was left on empty school bus for hours
Published 10:59 am Thursday, November 30, 2023
- Front view of a yellow school bus
A Mississippi family is reportedly taking legal action after they say their 5-year-old boy was left alone for hours on an empty school bus.
WLBT in Jackson reports that the attorney for Shameaka Washington is seeking punitive damages against the Brookhaven School District after Washington’s 5-year-old son Germani woke up in the bus at the district bus barn.
According to attorney Gerard Mumford, the boy was crying an screaming to get off, but wasn’t noticed by anyone at the bus barn for more than six hours.
Mumford said the boy has been traumatized by the incident.
The family’s attorney has requested all records and surveillance videos from that day.
Brookhaven School Superintendent Rod Henderson told the Brookhaven Daily Leader at the time of the incident that there was an issue with a child left temporarily on a bus, and a personnel issue that was handled.
The superintendent said the district does require drivers to check their buses at the end of each route to ensure no child is still on board.
“I can say that the child was fine, but since it’s a student and personnel issue I can’t comment more than that,” Henderson said.