The family of 8 year old Amber Sadiq, who was killed by a runaway school bus in May, will file a wrongful death lawsuit against the city. An 8 year old boy, T. James, who had been reprimanded repeatedly by the school and sent home had released the brakes of the empty bus, causing it to careen towards Amber and her brother, Umar. According to the Daily News, the lawsuit will ask for millions in damages for the little's girl death on a Brooklyn street, as well as damages for Umar who had to see his sister die on their way home from school. The notice of claim included charges of the city's "negligence for failing to secure the school bus, hiring incompetent workers and failing to supervise the troubled 8-year-old boy." What's interesting is that home suspensions are illegal, which would make PS 161's decision to send James home questionable. more ›

The 8 year old boy who released a school bus' parking brake, causing it to roll down a hill and kill 8 year old Amber Sadiq (pictured, right), will not be be formally charged murder by the city. The police initially charged 8 year old Tafari J. with criminally negligent homicide, but there were objections from Amber's family as well as the mayor. It was also decided that Tafari should enter therapeutic foster care for eight months. His parents agreed, and his 25 year old father, Albert James, who had been raising him on his own as his wife Sophia Morales moved to Florida, said, "I'd like to see him get help. Whatever is best for him, I'm for it." His mother now wants custody, but the Daily News reported she could not afford a lawyer. more ›

A funeral was held for 8 year old Amber Sadiq, who died on Monday when a school bus crushed her. Amber's parents were Muslim and Catholic, so the funeral had rituals from both religions; the Daily News pointed out both the reverand and imran recited, "From dust she came and as dust she will return." more ›

- The Daily News' Pascale LeDraoulec thought velvet ropes were so yesterday...but he went to Buddakan and realized he was wrong more ›

The family of 8 year old Amber Sadiq, who was killed when another 8 year old released the parking brake of a school bus and sent the bus rolling down the street, does not want the boy to face charges. Amber's father, Imran Sadiq, said, "He is a baby himself. The question is why the vehicle was not more secure." Tafari (whose full name was printed in the NY Times but not the Post or Daily News; Newsday and NY Sun printed his first name) was charged with negligent homicide, but will undergo psychiatric evaluations first; the city's corporation counsel will ultimately decide whether to pursue the charges. Tafari, who cried during yesterday's hearing and asked how old the judge was as well as what the gavel was for, was described by his lawyer as being traumatized and scared. One revelation was that Tafari missed 40 days of school - enough for PS 161 to contact the Administration for Children's Services and for the ACS to check on the family (Tafari's father was raising him and a brother). more ›

A girl crossing Nostrand Avenue was pinned down by a "runaway" school bus in Brooklyn yesterday afternoon. Second grader Amber Sadiq had been walking home with her 10 year old brother when an empty bus rolled down the street. The bus weighed 26,000 pounds, and witnesses tried to push the bus off Sadiq without luck. When police arrived, they asked a nearby Con Ed truck to help pull the bus off Sadiq. Sadiq's brother, Umar, who was able to dodge the bus, cried, "I was right there with her. It was terrible. Someone picked me up and carried me home." One witness said Sadiq tried to run "but the garbage can was in the way." more ›