East Flatbush school sees safety upgrades following a bus crash that injured student and mother

A school bus crashed into Cortelyou Academy in East Flatbush earlier this month running over an 8-year-old student and his mother.

Valerie Ryan

Apr 25, 2025, 2:38 AM

Updated 4 hr ago

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Cortelyou Academy now has a school crossing guard after a bus crashed into the school's fence sending a student and his mother to the hospital.
A school bus crashed into Cortelyou Academy in East Flatbush earlier this month running over an 8-year-old student and his mother.
Shortly after, the Cortelyou community started a petition advocating for street safety upgrades. They call the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Farragut Road dangerous.
Sophia Francis, executive director of Cortelyou Academy, says that with the help of the parents and elected officials, a school crossing guard is now stationed outside their school during arrival and dismissal.
It's been a community effort, kind of grassroots, and we're just glad that the congresswoman, the councilwoman, everyone kind of came to answer our requests and prayers," said Francis.
"Technically the city does not provide crossing guards to private institutions. So that's why we spoke directly with the commissioner's office, and we said it's a necessity for this particular area," said Council member Farah Louis.
Community members say they've been slowly picking up the pieces and their new crossing guard is the first step in the right direction.