New Details On Wheelchair-Bound Child’s Death On School Bus In Somerset County

FRANKLIN, NJ — Authorities are releasing more information into the death of a 6-year-old girl who died following a school bus ride in Franklin Township earlier this week.

The 6-year-old victim is identified as Fajr Atiya Williams of Franklin Township, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief Frank Roman Jr. said.

The child was picked up at her home and was being driven to the Claremont Elementary School in Franklin Park by school bus which was operated by Montauk Transit Services, said Roman.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities await the findings from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, said Roman.

A school bus monitor was charged in connection with the death. Amanda Davila, 27, of New Brunswick, was charged with second-degree manslaughter, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to officials.

The incident was reported shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday when Franklin Township Police were called to a local school for a call for an unresponsive child. Read More: 6-Year-Old Dies After School Bus Ride, Woman Charged In Franklin

Officers administered CPR to the 6-year-old child. The child was taken to an area hospital’s intensive care unit and was subsequently pronounced dead, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.

An investigation by Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department and Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit found that the child, a 6-year-old girl with special needs, was attending an extended school year program at a local school in Franklin Township.

The 6-year-old used a wheelchair and was taken by a transit school bus from her home on Monday morning. The child’s wheelchair was secured in the back of the school bus by Davila, who was assigned as the school bus monitor, McDonald said.

"During the transport, a series of bumps in the road caused the 6-year-old to slump in her wheelchair seat making the 4-point harness that secured her to the chair to become tight around her neck ultimately blocking her airway," McDonald said.

School bus monitor Davila was seated towards the front of the bus and was using a cell phone while wearing earbud headphones in both ears during the ride, McDonald said. The investigation found that this was in violation of policies and procedures.

Davila arrested at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday without incident.

Davila was taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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