A six-year-old autistic girl died after being left forgotten on a school bus in blistering hot weather. Winter Jones was supposed to be transported from Kid University in Memphis to Macon-Hall Elementary School on August 13, but she never arrived.
She was discovered unresponsive in a van parked outside the facility later that afternoon and was declared dead at the scene. That day temperatures soared into the high 90s (above 36C), according to National Weather Service records reviewed by WMC.
Workers Arrested and Charged
Childcare workers Sabrina Powe, 43, and Tametria Norry, 49, have been arrested and face charges of aggravated child neglect, criminally negligent homicide, and destruction of and tampering with governmental records. A third employee, Amilya Hardin, was also indicted in connection with the girl's death, reports the Express US.
Norry has been identified as the driver of the van, while Powe was the assistant director of Kid University and Hardin works as a daycare assistant.
Investigation Findings
Following the girl's death, the Tennessee Department of Human Services initiated an investigation into Kid University. The agency determined that the facility had failed to comply with multiple transportation safety requirements.
Staff members reportedly failed to adhere to correct vehicle inspection protocols after youngsters were offloaded, and the transportation record contained errors. Furthermore, authorities confirmed that compulsory walk-throughs to ensure all children had departed the vehicle were never conducted.
Family's Response
Winter's mum Nakia Cloman received a telephone call from the nursery after her daughter was discovered. One employee reportedly stated: "Winter was left on the bus" and "she's barely breathing."
Her father described the circumstances as an "absolute nightmare" and said it occurred due to "people who were too busy doing nothing to where they couldn't make sure Winter was taken care of properly."
