Lutz, Florida – Hillsborough county school district is in hot water after they left 9-year-old with autism and sleep apnea Tamya Joseph on the bus. The bus was on it’s way to Maniscalco Elementary School when Tamya fell asleep in the back. When the driver arrived at school all the children got off the bus, except Tamya who was still napping in the back. The driver and bus aid didn’t discover her until at least 40 minutes later.
Hillsborough school district spokesperson Tanya Arja was interviewed by WFLA NBC 8 and had this to say about the incident:
“She could have died on the back of that bus wherever they were at if she wasn’t found,”
Further adding:
“This isn’t the first time the bus drivers and aids have been negligent.”
She went on to say that she didn’t know exactly why the bus diver and aid didn’t check for any students left, only that they should every morning. Tamya’s mother, Tanya Joseph is livid. On a scale of 1-10, she’s at 150.
In January 2012 the aid nor driver called 9-1-1 when student and muscular dystrophy sufferer Isabella Herrera stopped breathing. She died the next day. As for the latest issue, Arja is unsure how the bus and aid will be disciplined, only that both will.
Contributed by Audrey L. Hollingshead