7-year-old student with special needs dies while on school bus in Ohio, authorities say
CINCINNATI -- Police have launched a death investigation after a 7-year-old student with special needs died while riding home on a bus in Ohio on Wednesday, WLWT reported.
The girl, 7-year-old Ngone Talla, attended Roselawn Condon School, according to Cincinnati Public Schools. Her family says she was discovered unresponsive in her wheelchair when the bus arrived at their home.
WLWT confirmed that the bus involved was operated by First Student, which released a statement saying, "All of us at First Student are deeply saddened by the death of a student on one of our buses. Our thoughts and prayers are with the student's family, classmates, school community and all those impacted as they navigate this difficult time."
First Student said since the investigation is active, they could not provide any further details.
Family speaks out
Talla's family says they noticed the bus sitting outside the home for about 10 minutes, saying they usually see the back doors open for the ramp to get her wheelchair out. According to the family, when they saw that wasn't happening, they went outside and that's when they were told she was not responding. The family says when they were let on the bus, they found the 7-year-old unresponsive.
"We went on the bus, and I see my sister unresponsive and lifeless. So, I'm there, I'm mad. I'm yelling in the bus. I'm like, okay, how did this happen?" Marema Talla, Ngone's sister, said.
Marema, 12, says she often helped mom get her little sister off the school bus when she returned home each day.
The child's father, Abdoul Talla, said he got a call Wednesday afternoon and learned Ngone wasn't breathing.
"They say the bus was staying here like over 10, 15 minutes before they let them know," he said. "The bus driver came outside and he told them like, 'oh come look'. And they went inside the bus, and they see she was not breathing, she was not moving. And after that, that's why they call me, and I say call 911, and I call 911, me myself. And I drive up here and I see my daughter inside the bus and I was like 'it's over'. And that's when they took her the Children's and they said 'it's over'."
The family is now left with broken hearts and unanswered questions.
"The driver and a second person, they're supposed to just watch carefully, the kids, because you cannot have these kids in this bus and you're not watching them. And it was really hot yesterday, and I don't know what's going on. I'm waiting for the investigation to let us know what's happened," Abdoul Talla, Ngone's father, said.
Coroner statement
The coroner reported that there were no traumatic injuries or signs of harm related to her death.
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"She became unresponsive in her wheelchair on the bus, but she has extensive medical history including cerebral palsy. There was nothing traumatic and no injuries were related to the death," the coroner's office said in a statement.
School response Cincinnati Public Schools shared Talla went to school at Roselawn Condon School.
"Our hearts are with her family and everyone who knew and loved her. This is an unimaginable loss for them and a heartbreaking day for the Roselawn Condon community," CPS said in a statement.
CPS says their Crisis Response Unit is at the school supporting students and employees.
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