The grandmother of a 12-year-old special-needs child who was critically injured after he opened his school bus’ emergency exit and fell out plans to file a $30 million lawsuit.
Nyahali Pediford-Aziz has informed city Controller Scott Stringer of the pending suit that will name the Department of Education and the city’s Administration for Children’s Services as defendants, paperwork filed Oct. 27 shows.
Pediford-Aziz claims her grandson, Ajene (A.J.) Pediford managed to open the bus door Oct. 17 as the vehicle was traveling on Melrose Ave. in the Bronx.
He was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, where he is still hospitalized, she said.
“He was in a coma for a week,” she said.
“We just stayed praying and talking to him and he woke up. Thank God.”
Ajene was living with his grandmother and father, Maliek Pediford, 33, until about a year ago when he was taken into the city’s custody because of an abuse allegation that the dad disputes.
Maliek Pediford said he’s had custody of his son, who has ADHD, since he was 9 months old after his mother “just gave him up.”
“He’s getting a lot better, he’s walking around and he’s talking,” the dad said. “They just recently removed the staples from the back of his head.”
Pediford said his son doesn’t remember opening the back door but said he was the last child on the bus.
“Why didn’t the bus matron see him walk to the back of the bus and open the door?” he asked.
He said the city’s family services agency wants Ajene to go to a mental facility because he’s a lot more aggressive since the fall.
An ACS spokesman said he couldn’t comment on the case but was aware that the child had been injured while traveling home from school on the bus.
A spokeswoman for the city Education Department referred a request for comment to the city Law Department, which said the agency will review the lawsuit.
With Ben Chapman