Florida Teen Jumps From School Bus, Attempts Suicide Amid Bullying
Family alleges school officials failed to address repeated bullying reports, leading to a desperate act by a 14-year-old.
A 14-year-old Florida student jumped from a moving school bus window to escape relentless bullying and later attempted suicide, according to reports. The incident has prompted her family to demand accountability from school officials, alleging that repeated complaints about the bullying went unaddressed.
Estrella Ventura Meras, a seventh grader at Okeechobee Achievement Academy, was hospitalized in intensive care after surviving a suicide attempt earlier this month. Her family stated that she had been targeted by other students since the beginning of the school year, and the escalating harassment severely degraded her mental state.
In a video that circulated online, Estrella was seen climbing through a school bus window and dropping to the ground before running home. Her family reported finding her at home with a note stating, "I'm tired of this," after she had ingested a quantity of medication. She received life-saving medical care.
"She just feared for her life," a family member told WPTV News. "She didn't trust the bus driver to do anything. She didn't trust going out the front or back door, so she jumped out the bus window."
Estrella's mother, Estela Meras, stated on social media that she had reported the ongoing harassment multiple times, but no action was taken. "My daughter nearly paid the ultimate price for their inaction," she wrote. "School bullying is a crisis, and staying silent or doing nothing is no longer an option."
The Okeechobee County School District acknowledged the incident and stated that it takes bullying reports seriously. "Every student deserves to feel safe, and we take reports of bullying seriously," a district spokesperson said.
However, Estrella's family and other concerned parents gathered outside the school board, holding signs and chanting for greater accountability. Protesters expressed that they too had reported issues to the school without seeing results, emphasizing the need for improved handling of bullying complaints.
District officials stated that Estrella's case remains under investigation but declined to provide further details, citing federal student privacy laws. They maintained that the district's existing policies comply with Florida law and provide a thorough process for investigating and addressing bullying allegations.
Under current policy, schools must conduct investigations within 10 school days, notify parents when an investigation begins, and produce a written report with recommendations. The district also stated that it is focused on consistently enforcing existing requirements rather than implementing new policies or procedural changes. A spokesperson for the district said that allegations of reports going unaddressed are taken seriously.
According to the district, four other alleged bullying incidents reported this school year involving four alleged victims and nine alleged perpetrators were investigated, but none were ultimately confirmed as bullying. The district defined bullying as 'systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress' on one or more students, noting that a single incident may not meet this definition but could indicate a broader pattern.
Estrella's family, however, remains resolute in their call for accountability, insisting that their concerns must be addressed before another student faces a similar crisis. "All we want is answers for Estrella," one protester stated.
For those in the U.S. needing support, the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988, or online at 988lifeline.org.