Autistic 6-Year-Old Dies After Being Left on Hot School Bus in Memphis
A six-year-old autistic girl died when childcare staff left her on a school bus in extreme heat, and two workers have been arrested.
Winter Jones, a six-year-old with autism, was left on a Kid University school bus in Memphis on a sweltering day and later found dead at Macon-Hall Elementary. The National Weather Service recorded temperatures in the high 90s, creating life-threatening conditions inside the vehicle. Sabrina Powe, the assistant director, and Tametria Norry, the van driver, were taken into custody on counts of aggravated child neglect, criminally negligent homicide, and record tampering; Amilya Hardin, a daycare assistant, was also charged.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services reported that Kid University ignored multiple transportation safety rules, including proper vehicle inspections and mandatory walk-throughs to confirm all children had exited the bus. The child's parents learned of the tragedy by phone, describing the incident as a nightmare caused by staff negligence. Authorities continue to investigate the provider's compliance failures.
Why it matters
The case highlights critical gaps in child-care transportation safety and raises questions about oversight of private providers.
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