Frankfort, Illinois — A 6-year-old Illinois girl was fatally struck and run over by a school bus just six seconds after she stepped off to go home, according to her family and police investigation records. Now, her family is suing the school district, alleging that long-standing safety concerns surrounding the bus route contributed to her death.
Jenna Menias, a second grader at Grand Prairie Elementary School in Frankfort, died on Sept. 8 after she was struck while attempting to cross in front of her school bus, according to her family.
A lawsuit filed against Frankfort School District 157-C and Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, which operated the bus, alleges there had been years of concerns about how the route was being handled.
Family Says Safety Concerns Were Repeatedly Raised
Jenna’s family attorney, Daniel Kirschner, said residents had previously complained about the safety of the bus route.
“It culminated on this day,” Kirschner told the Chicago Tribune, alleging that “numerous residents” had raised concerns because they did not believe the route was safe for children.
Kirschner also said some children were routinely dropped off a significant distance from their homes, creating additional safety concerns for younger students.
“Oftentimes children are let off quite a distance from their house, as was the case here,” Kirschner said. “Children of a very young age, as was the case here.”
According to Jenna’s family, they had specifically asked District 157-C to allow children to be dropped off at their driveways directly in front of their homes.
The district repeatedly rejected those requests. The family’s most recent explanation reportedly stated:
“Due to route timing and efficiency requirements, we are unable to provide individual house stops.”
Bus Began Moving Just Seconds After Jenna Stepped Off
According to police records obtained by local CBS affiliate WBBM, Jenna was attempting to cross in front of the school bus when the driver allegedly began moving again.
The investigation reportedly determined that the crash was “preventable.”
Police records indicate the driver allegedly took his attention away from the road while Jenna was crossing.
Video footage from inside the bus and another school bus traveling behind it allegedly showed the substitute driver operating the vehicle with one hand while holding and reading a route map with the other.
The police report reportedly states that the driver looked into the rearview mirror at other children on the bus and at the route map.
He then allegedly closed the bus door, retracted the safety stop arm and began moving forward.
Jenna was struck approximately six seconds after stepping off the bus, according to the investigation records.
She was then reportedly run over by the bus’s rear tandem wheels.
Driver Had Recently Received His School Bus License
The investigation also raised questions about the driver’s experience.
According to reports, the substitute driver received his license to operate a school bus in July, approximately two months before the fatal crash. Police said this was reportedly the first time he had driven Jenna’s route. The family attorney described the circumstances as more than a failure by one individual.
“More than horrifying, it’s infuriating,” Kirschner told WBBM. “And, that’s not just on the driver. That’s an institutional failure.”
The lawsuit now seeks accountability from the school districts involved in the transportation operation.
No Criminal Charges Have Been Filed
Although police reportedly determined that the crash was preventable, no criminal charges have been filed against the driver. Police issued a citation, while the broader investigation remains ongoing.
Frankfort police have reportedly declined to comment further because the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.
The NTSB’s involvement means additional details could emerge as investigators examine the circumstances surrounding Jenna’s death.
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School Districts Offer Condolences
Representatives described the incident as a tragedy and expressed their “deepest sympathies” and “sincerest condolences” to Jenna’s family.
For Jenna’s loved ones, however, the lawsuit is now focused on more than the circumstances of one tragic afternoon.
The family alleges that repeated concerns about the route, the way children were dropped off and broader transportation practices should have prompted action before the 6-year-old’s death.
The case is expected to continue as investigators examine what happened during those critical seconds and whether additional safety measures could have prevented the tragedy.
What do you think should be done to improve school bus safety and protect young children after they step off the bus? Share your thoughts in the comments.
