CINCINNATI — The family of a 7-year-old Cincinnati Public Schools student who died after being found unresponsive on her school bus says they are searching for answers about what happened during the roughly hour-and-a-half ride home from school.
Ngone Talla, a student at Roselawn Condon School, was nonverbal, used a wheelchair and had developmental disabilities, according to her family. Her father, Abdoula Talla, said his daughter was healthy and happy when she went to school Wednesday morning.
By the time her school bus arrived outside the family's Northside home that afternoon, Ngone was unresponsive.
"I just want to know the truth," Abdoula told WCPO. "She's a lovely baby, and I just want to know the truth."
Cincinnati police confirmed officers responded to the 4200 block of Colerain Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and are conducting a death investigation. The Hamilton County Coroner's Office has not yet released Ngone's cause of death.
Ngone's family told WCPO the bus arrived home late Wednesday. Abdoula said when the bus finally arrived around 5 p.m., surveillance video at the family's home showed it sitting outside for about 10 to 15 minutes without the wheelchair ramp being lowered.
His 12-year-old daughter, Marema Talla, said she came outside after her mother told her Ngone's bus had arrived. She said a bus employee eventually invited family members aboard.
Marema said she found her younger sister sitting motionless in her wheelchair.
"She was just laying there with her head up like that, and her lips were dry, and her lips were like cut and bleeding," Marema said. "I checked her pulse, and she wasn't breathing."
WATCH: We talk with Ngone Talla's family as they call for answers
Marema said she asked an attendant what had happened and was told that something had been coming from Ngone's mouth before she became still. WCPO has not independently verified that account, and authorities have not said when Ngone became unresponsive or what happened during the bus ride.
Abdoula said his wife and children called him after discovering Ngone was not breathing. He said he immediately called 911 while rushing home.
"I drive up from exit 9 to here, and I was just taking the wrong way, do whatever I can to get here," he said.
By the time he arrived and saw his daughter on the bus, Abdoula said he feared she was already gone.
Ngone was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The family is now questioning why, according to their account, emergency responders were not called before the bus arrived at their home.
"I think the bus driver is supposed to do that first before I do that," Abdoula said.
Marema said she believes someone on the bus should have recognized something was wrong with her sister and sought help.
"They should have never had to wait for the parents to call the ambulance because it should have been their responsibility," she said. "They should have never waited until they got to the house to even try to call them."
Marema said she believes her sister might have had another chance if help had been summoned sooner. Investigators have not said when Ngone suffered a medical emergency, whether earlier intervention could have changed the outcome or whether anyone aboard the bus knew she was in distress before arriving at the family's home.
Abdoula said the bus typically carried a driver and an attendant responsible for watching students. He said the attendant working Wednesday was not the person who normally rode Ngone's bus.
First Student, which operated the bus, did not address the family's allegations or provide details about what happened during the ride. However, the company did release the following statement:
"All of us at First Student are deeply saddened by the death of a student on one of our buses. Our thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family, classmates, school community and all those impacted as they navigate this difficult time.
We are fully cooperating with the local authorities and the Cincinnati Public School District as they conduct a thorough investigation. Because this is an active investigation, and out of respect for the family and everyone involved, we are unable to provide additional details at this time."
For Ngone's family, the unanswered questions come alongside the sudden loss of a child they describe as energetic and deeply loved.
Marema described her little sister as "funny" and "nice." Although Ngone could not speak or walk, Marema said she had a big personality.
Her family said Ngone had appeared happy that morning. Abdoula said he had communicated with her teacher after taking her to school and was told his daughter was having a good day.
"The teacher said, 'Oh, she's so happy today,'" he said.
Abdoula said he cared for Ngone throughout her life, bathing her, dressing her and making sure she had the same things as her sisters. He said he was especially close to Ngone because of the amount of care she required.
"That's my baby," he said. "She got everything my other kids got: new Jordans, new shoes, new clothes, everything."
For Marema, the grief is mixed with anger.
"It's not fair. It's not fair at all," she said. "I'm mad, I'm sad, and I'm angry at the same time," she added.
CPS issued the following statement about the child's death.
"Cincinnati Public Schools is grieving the loss of a student from Roselawn Condon School who died yesterday.
Our hearts are with her family and everyone who knew and loved her. This is an unimaginable loss for them and a heartbreaking day for the Roselawn Condon community.
The CPS Crisis Response Unit is at the school supporting students and employees."
Police have not announced any criminal charges or said publicly whether they suspect wrongdoing.
