"She's missing teeth and her jaw was hurting:" 6-year-old girl falls out the back of moving school bus
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A six-year-old Milwaukee girl is recovering at home tonight. That's after she tumbled out of the back of a moving school bus on her way home on Thursday, January 29th.
The little girl's godparents say she was playing with the back door and tumbled out -- all before the door's emergency alarm could alert the driver to what was going on.
The bus ride home from school is one of the most routine things in a child's life. But on Thursday, one routine ride quickly turned into a parental nightmare.
"Some kids were taunting her and telling her to open up the back door and she's six, so she listened, so I guess she messed with the latch and another kid helped her or something and when the bus turned the corner on 60th she fell out," said Chris LeGath and Constance Thomas, godparents.
The little girl's godparents say the emergency alarm didn't go off in time to alert the driver to what was going on in the back of the bus. They say the driver continued down the road another couple of blocks before realizing what had happened.
"They say it don't go off unless the door's all the way open, by then it's too late for a kid -- she already fell out," said LeGath and Constance.
The tumble landed their goddaughter at Children's Hospital.
"When I first seen her, she was, you know, dazed, you know, she was still out of it. Mouth was all bloody, she couldn't talk very well because she's missing teeth and her jaw was hurting. They put her in a neck brace," said LeGath.
FOX6 News reached out to the company that operates the bus, they had this to say about the incident:
"Durham School Services top priority is the safety of the students we transport. Every school day, our drivers do a multi-point inspection before and after each route to check for issues that need immediate attention; this includes checking the emergency exit door. We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students we transport, and as such, are taking this matter very seriously. At this time, it is an active investigation and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."
FOX6 News also reached out to a spokesman for Milwaukee Public Schools. He says they were told that the alarm did go off and the bus driver stopped as soon as possible and called 911.
He also says the school has been in regular contact with the girl's family and wishes her a speedy recovery.
Her godparents say she is now recovering at home.