Surveillance footage shows moment school bus hits mom, child in Flatbush — students left shaken
The incident happened during the morning drop-off rush Wednesday at the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Farragut Road.
More Stories
Parents and students at Cortelyou Academy in Flatbush are still shaken after a school bus suddenly accelerated and slammed into the school’s front gate—pinning an 8-year-old boy and his mother. Both were hospitalized with serious injuries, but are now recovering.
The incident happened during the morning drop-off rush Wednesday at the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Farragut Road. Surveillance video captured the moments leading up to the crash. In one clip, the school bus can be seen idling outside the school. As a car pulls away from in front of the building, the bus suddenly accelerates forward. Another camera angle shows the mom and son just seconds before they were struck and pinned against the school gate.
Kisia Peters, a parent of a student at the school, said the crash has left her family shaken. “She actually didn’t want to come to school. She didn’t want to see the gate like this. But we convinced her to go this morning,” Peters said.
Executive Director Sophia Francis says the intersection has long been a safety concern.“This area is a troublesome area. You’ll be in the classroom and hear ‘boom.’ We’ve petitioned for a crossing guard before, but maybe because we’re a private school, it doesn’t qualify,” she said.
Francis says the school has brought in counselors and social workers to help students process the trauma.
“They’re drawing, talking it out—however they feel comfortable. It’s a small community—only 125 students—so this has impacted everyone.”
Parents are now organizing a petition to push for a dedicated crossing guard at the intersection. Many say it’s long overdue.
“This is actually not the first or the second crash at this intersection since my daughter has been going to this school,” Peters added.
