FRANKFORT, Ill. — The family of 6-year-old Jenna Menias has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against two school districts following the September 8 crash that killed the young girl after she was struck by her school bus in Frankfort.
Jenna, a student at Grand Prairie Elementary School, had been dropped off on Aberdeen Road shortly before the fatal incident. According to police records reviewed in the investigation, the bus began moving only seconds after she stepped off. She was struck as she attempted to cross in front of the bus and later died at a nearby hospital.
The lawsuit names Frankfort School District 157-C and Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, which operates transportation services for the district. Jenna’s family alleges that concerns about the safety of the bus route and the way children were being dropped off had been raised before the crash.
Investigation points to a six-second window
One of the most troubling details to emerge from the investigation is how quickly the incident unfolded.
According to police records and bus-camera footage, Jenna stepped off the bus and moved toward the front of the vehicle. Within about six seconds, the driver closed the bus door, retracted the stop arm and began driving forward.
Investigators said the driver was looking toward the rearview mirror and at a route map rather than maintaining his attention on the roadway. The bus then struck Jenna, with the rear tandem wheels running over her. Police characterized the crash as preventable and issued the driver a citation.
The driver had received his school-bus license in July, about two months before the crash, and police said this was his first time driving Jenna’s route. The lawsuit also alleges that he was unfamiliar with the route when he was assigned to it.
Family says concerns about the bus stop came before the tragedy
Jenna’s family says the crash cannot be viewed only as an isolated mistake by a driver.
According to the lawsuit, Jenna’s mother had previously raised concerns about where children were being dropped off. The family’s concerns included the distance children had to travel after leaving the bus and the need for some students to cross the street to reach their homes.
The family says requests for a safer drop-off arrangement, including stopping closer to the home, were rejected because of route timing and efficiency considerations. The lawsuit alleges that similar concerns had been raised previously regarding transportation for Jenna’s older brother.
Family attorney Daniel Kirschner has argued that the circumstances point to broader transportation-system failures rather than a single moment behind the wheel.
Both school districts have expressed sympathy for Jenna’s family but have declined to comment in detail on the pending litigation and investigation.
School district begins reviewing transportation procedures
The tragedy has already prompted changes to the transportation program.
An internal district communication obtained during the investigation said several bus stops had been adjusted, while additional routes were being reviewed to determine whether students could enter and leave buses on the side of the roadway closest to their homes.
Frankfort School District 157-C also said it would have an independent transportation consultant conduct a comprehensive review of its transportation program.
The developments come as Jenna’s family seeks answers through the civil lawsuit. The case was filed in Cook County Circuit Court in September and names both school districts as defendants.
NTSB investigation remains underway
Frankfort police have declined to provide additional details while a National Transportation Safety Board investigation continues.
The NTSB has confirmed that it is gathering information from the incident as part of its work involving school-bus safety. The federal investigation is separate from the family’s civil lawsuit and could provide additional information about what happened and whether broader safety issues contributed to the crash.
For Jenna’s family, the legal case is now about more than determining what happened on September 8. They are seeking accountability while pressing for changes they hope can prevent another child from facing a similar danger.
Jenna’s death has also left a lasting mark on the Frankfort community. In the weeks following the crash, residents gathered for a vigil, while a memorial grew outside the family’s home. Her family also marked what would have been her seventh birthday at her gravesite.
