**Tragic Death of Young Girl Sparks Lawsuit Against School Districts**
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A devastating incident occurred in Frankfort, Illinois, on September 8, when six-year-old Jenna Menias was struck and killed by a school bus shortly after disembarking. The incident has led her family to file a wrongful death lawsuit against two local school districts, raising critical questions about student safety during school transportation.
The morning began like any other for Michael Menias, Jenna’s father. He dropped off his daughter at the designated bus stop, where she was to catch her ride to Grand Prairie Elementary School. “I told her, ‘I love you,’” Menias recounted. “She had that big smile on her face that morning.” Tragically, this routine day turned into an unimaginable nightmare when Jenna was hit by the same bus that had just dropped her off.
Jenna’s family is currently grappling with the immense loss, relying on therapy as they navigate their grief. “We’re all using therapy at this time,” Menias expressed. “That’s all we can do right now – just keep going to the memories that we had with Jenna and hanging on to them.”
The family’s legal representative, Daniel Kirschner, asserts that there were significant safety concerns regarding the bus route and drop-off procedures. In the weeks leading up to the tragedy, Jenna’s mother reached out to Frankfort School District 157-C, expressing her worries that the drop-off point was situated hundreds of feet from their home and posed a potential risk.
According to the lawsuit, Jenna lived on a dead-end road, indicating that the bus would need to loop back after dropping her off. The family alleges that Jenna’s regular bus driver historically made accommodations to drop her off directly at their home if no one was present to collect her. However, on the day of the incident, a substitute driver was operating the bus and allowed Jenna to exit unaccompanied.
Details from a video obtained by the law firm reveal alarming insights into the moments leading up to the accident. As Jenna disembarked, she attempted to navigate around the bus’s crossing arm. Kirschner reported that at the time the bus driver retracted the arm, Jenna was already in front of the vehicle. “From the time she puts her foot down on the road until the time that bus strikes her is about six seconds,” he noted. The video reportedly shows the driver preoccupied with looking at the bus roster and route when the tragedy unfolded.
Following the incident, Jenna was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries. When approached for comment, officials from both school districts expressed their condolences but refrained from further comment due to the ongoing litigation.
Kirschner highlighted the family’s objective in pursuing legal action, stating, “From day one, the goal of the family is to ensure this never happens to another family.” He articulated a desire to identify the various factors that contributed to the accident and to explore potential legislative changes that might enhance student safety during school transportation.
Jenna was the youngest child in the Menias family and was known for her vibrant personality, lighting up any room she entered. Her father described her as a spirited child who loved engaging with others. “She was always smiling,” he recalled, emphasising her gentle nature and affection for her dog, Oscar. The pair were reportedly inseparable during Jenna’s time at home.
Jenna’s family had planned a birthday celebration for her just weeks after her tragic passing, as she would have turned seven on September 25. “We always have two different plans,” her father shared, reflecting on the happy moments they intended to create. “We were going to take her to the Wolf Lodge over in Gurnee, and then have a birthday party at our house with her friends.”
As the family continues to mourn their loss, Michael Menias hopes to celebrate Jenna’s legacy by encouraging others to remember her infectious joy and love for life. “She loved everybody. She was always happy. She was a beautiful little angel. That’s what I want people to remember.”
This unfortunate incident has reignited discussions surrounding school transportation safety and the responsibilities of school districts in protecting young students. As the community rallies around the Menias family, many are left to ponder how to prevent such tragedies in the future.