Parents Of South Jersey Boy Killed In School Bus Accident File Lawsuit
By Cleve Bryan
MARLTON, NJ (CBS) - One year ago Candice Bock witnessed her six-year-old son Edmond's graphic death.
"Our son was struck and killed by a school bus, and I saw the whole thing," says Candice Bock speaking alongside her husband Edmond Bock III and their attorney Benjamin Folkman.
On January 6, 2014 Edmond IV was with his mother and younger brother Ryan to catch the bus to Atco Elementary School.
As Edmond crossed the street and walked around the safety arm in front of the bus, the driver unexpectedly hit the gas and ran Edmond over.
"I started screaming and started running and hitting the bus and he just kept driving," says Bock who held her son while another witness sped down the street to flag down the bus driver who was apparently oblivious to what happened.
Paramedics were unable to revive Edmond, his skull was crushed.
"It was just a very, very horrible day. I just never would think that your child would be gone that quick," says Edmond Bock III.
On December 17 the Bocks attorney filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Waterford Board of Education and Hillman's Bus Service.
The bus driver has not been named but he was a substitute on the route that day.
"All we know is that he didn't make the proper observations that day, and for whatever reason he started moving when there was a child in front of him," says Folkman.
Morristown, NJ attorney Bob Gold represents both Waterford and Hillman's in the lawsuit, he says there was no negligence on the drivers part.
The Camden County Prosecutor's Office released a statement today saying that the driver passed a toxicology exam and was not reckless so he will not face any charges.
The Bocks aren't just seeking compensation for losing Edmond they want to see improvements to school bus safety.
"We want things to happen so we can prevent this as much as possible, such as having sensors on the bus that sense when there's a child out in front and it stops the bus from going," says Edmond Bock III pointing out that many cars have similar sensors.
They also want to see enhanced training and protocols for bus drivers and believe it's appropriate in many cases for companies to employ bus aides to help children getting on and off the bus.
