Amira Aminova 11-year-old Brooklyn girl killed in Bath Beach hit and run crash after being fatally struck by school bus driver ‘darting’ across street. Wawa Aurelus, 62, of East Flatbush arrested and charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care.
A school bus driver who allegedly struck and killed an 11-year-old girl in a hit-and-run crash in Brooklyn on Thursday afternoon has been arrested, police officials announced on Friday.
Wawa Aurelus, 62, of East Flatbush was taken into custody shortly after 3 p.m., around the time officials say he hit 11-year-old girl, Amira Aminova at the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Bath Avenue in Bath Beach.
The incident led to the child suffering ‘severe trauma’ to her head and body, authorities said. Emergency medical services transported the girl to Maimonides Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
School bus driver flees Bath Beach hit and run crash scene
The school bus driver who fled the scene was arrested shortly later according to the NYPD.
Upon his arrest, Aurelus was charged with misdemeanor failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care, the nytimes reported.
Aminova was less than 200 feet from her home when she was struck, according to police. First responders took her to Maimonides Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Bath Beach hit & run of 11-year-old girl
The tragedy happened just after school dismissal. Video shows the school girl standing at the corner with the right of way, before darting across the street just as a school bus is making a turn according to Eyewitness News.
‘She sprinted. She just took off and tried to like, if you see a train coming and you try to run to beat the train, it was just like that. Being that I’ve driven those types of vehicles, it’s hard to see. Because the dimensions. You’re higher, there’s things blocking,’ a resident told the outlet.
Tragedy occurred during heavy foot traffic from students and families mid afternoon
Just before she crosses the street, the driver is still approaching the intersection, then as the driver makes the turn, a glare from the sun appears to hit the windshield as she sprints across the street.
Aurelus was issued a desk appearance ticket, and he is expected to appear in court on Feb. 24.
The fatal collision occurred in mid-afternoon, a time when the area typically sees heavy foot traffic from students and families. The investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad.
