Letter To The ITeam News 4- My Story On my son Deshon Injustice Death by NJ Transit/CoachUSA Wilson Romain
My name is Naomi; I am the mother of 22-year-old Coach USA/NJ Transit victim Deshon Johnson, who was killed in 2012. My son was run over twice at the corner of Broad Street, and Bay Avenue then dragged 50 to 100 feet to Bay Avenue bridge by Coach USA bus driver Wilson Romain operating an NJ Transit bus 709. We had a settlement, and now I question if that is the best outcome for my son’s case.
You guys did a story on my son’s gruesome death, and I will be honored if the I-Team do a follow-up story focus on safety being that the settlement is close.
Base on the new-found evidence; it shows that my son’s case process and the procedure was not correctly handled. Since then, I have been fighting to see that justice is done, I believe that things need to be changed with the operation of the bus line to avoid the tragedy that brings hazarder to people. In the way my son was killed; which was inhuman that he did not deserve to die in that way. Nor did the other victims who were killed by an NJ Transit/Coach USA reckless bus driver.
My son’s death was caused by the driver not stopping at the bus stop and jumping the curb. The bus not staying at the bus stop is negligent on the part of the bus company. If in fact, the driver had stopped my only child would still be on this earth. My thought is that they should have the bus driver to stop at every stop for one minute like the train for people who are hurrying to catch the bus.
There were a lot of mistakes made in my son’s case whatever they were; New Jersey Transit/Coach USA has been having these problems for a long time. Regardless of what the bus driver sees or did not see; if he were requested to stop my son life would not have been cut short. Whatever the cause, I do not want my son, and NJ Transit/Coach USA victims die in vain.
I want people to understand that NJ Transit and Coach USA is not keeping the public safe according to their mission statement. The process, procedures, and instruction of these bus companies for the bus drivers are inadequate. There are not appropriate, and that needs to be changed.
These largest bus companies are not going to bring on changes unless they are forced to do something by the press, citizens, and commuters. It is sad to say that the people become numb to all of these injuries and death due to there are too many that it has been view as a matter of routine.
This ongoing catastrophic behavior is not getting any better based on the information from the OPRA records. NJ Transit and Coach USA have not taken any affirmative steps as seen in the rise of fatality and injuries in 2012 to 2016 based on the OPRA records.
As I stated above, I will like to give this matter to the I-Team. I know you guys are the best news channel to bring the story into the forefront. I have been following your journalist investigation team stories on NJ Transit. I love the way the I-Team shine the light on NJ Transit distracted drivers. I may add that you guys have done a fantastic job in reporting these type of tragedy stories. However, I notice that you guys have not done an investigation story solely on Coach USA bus company reckless drivers.
I will like the I-Team to look through my new evidence and give your viewers some pointers on what they should look for whenever a case should go to courts. Along with how we should look more prominent as a society in what we are dealing with these buses and bus drivers. In addition to having the I-Team to investigate Coach USA bus company who based out of Scotland but under New Jersey Transit umbrella. I also want to focus on correcting how New Jersey Transit/Coach USA fail my son who was supposed to be a passenger on Romaine bus.
This is a story I want to get out. I wonder about the safety of the public due to the driving issues and the bus drivers lousy driving record. Like Wilson Romain who has a horrible history and driving record when he ran my son over. As of today, Romain is still operating the bus with a bad driving record.
I will like the opportunity to high light my son Deshon’s story and speak my truth about what really happened to him so it will not happen again. I want my son’s life to remember with a permeant plaque where he was killed, and law passes in his name. I want the world knows he did not do anything wrong to cause his death.
I am reinforcing my son legacy as a hip-hop artist, his clothing line, advocacy and the Deshon Johnson College Scholarship at the college he attended, Kean University.
In conclusion, this story is not the focus only on my son; it is the next chapter of my son’s story. I will like people to know I am a person who has established herself as an advocate that is rallying around about bus safety.
