South Jersey Family Sues School Bus Company After Child's Death

GALLOWAY, NJ — The parents of an Atlantic County teenager who died last year after becoming unconscious and unresponsive on a bus ride to school have filed a lawsuit against the bus company, claiming no one tried to help the boy during the 44-minute ride.

According to the lawsuit filed in Atlantic County Superior, Aaron Kizer-Goff and Jennifer Spahr are suing Sheppard Bus Services after their 15-year-old son, Landon Goff, died on Dec. 4, 2022, from a hypoxic brain injury and upper airway obstruction, court documents said.

In the lawsuit, Landon's parents accused Sheppard of catastrophic negligence and claimed their employees should have done more to prevent the boy's death.

"They don't want to see this ever happen to another child again or have another parent go through what they've had to endure for the past year," attorney Stephen Van Natten said at a Tuesday news conference reported by 6ABC.

The incident happened on Dec. 1, 2022, on a Sheppard-owned bus, according to court documents. Landon — who was disabled and in a wheelchair — was on his way to Cape May County Special Services School when he became unconscious, the lawsuit states.

Landon was one of four students on the bus, according to court documents.

In the lawsuit, Landon's parents claimed neither the bus driver nor the bus aide helped Landon before they arrived at the school. Court documents said school employees gave Landon CPR before he was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center.

He died three days later, the lawsuit said.

According to court documents, Sheppard employees acted "negligently and with willful and wanton disregard of Landon's rights." The lawsuit also claims the video and audio recording system on the bus was not working the day of the incident.

The family requested a jury trial, according to court documents, and is seeking unspecified monetary damages.