Ohio Community Mourns 7-Year-Old Girl Who Died on School Bus

A community in Ohio is mourning the death of 7-year-old Ngone Talla, who became unresponsive on a school bus on Wednesday and later died. Ngone, who had cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair, was found motionless by her 12-year-old sister, Marema Talla, after the bus arrived at their home. The family reported that Ngone's lips were dry, cut, and bleeding, and that a bus attendant mentioned something had come from the child's mouth.

Her father, Abdoula Talla, was called by his wife and other children and immediately contacted emergency services. By the time he arrived home, he feared Ngone was already gone. She was pronounced dead at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. The family is questioning the timeline of events, particularly why emergency services were not called sooner and what transpired during the roughly 90-minute bus ride.

"They should have never had to wait for the parents to call the ambulance because it should have been their responsibility," Marema Talla told WCPO. "They should have never waited until they got to the house to even try to call them."

The Hamilton County Coroner's Office stated there were no traumatic injuries or signs of foul play related to Ngone's death, noting her extensive medical history including cerebral palsy. The family described Ngone as having a big personality, despite being nonverbal and unable to walk.

Neighbors and members of the Senegalese community have rallied around the Talla family to offer support. Ngone was a student at Roselawn Condon Elementary School in Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati Public School District expressed its grief and stated that a crisis response unit would be available at the school to support students and staff. First Student, the company that operates the school bus, is cooperating with the investigation and shared its condolences with the family and school community.