NY School Bus Driver Wawa Aurelus Charged, Released in Crash Killing 11-Year-Old Amira Aminova

BATH BEACH, Brooklyn, New York — Amira Aminova, 11, of Brooklyn, was fatally struck Thursday afternoon by a school bus driven by Wawa Aurelus, 62, of East Flatbush. Aurelus was issued a desk appearance ticket and released from custody, according to records.

The crash occurred just after 3 p.m. at the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Bath Avenue in the Bath Beach section of Brooklyn, shortly after school dismissal in the area. Authorities say Aminova was attempting to cross the street when she was hit by the turning school bus.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene and Aminova was transported to Maimonides Medical Center for treatment. Despite medical efforts, she was pronounced dead at the hospital, police confirmed.

Police have charged Aurelus with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care. Both charges are classified as misdemeanors under New York law.

Authorities also stated that Aurelus did not remain at the scene following the collision. Police located the driver several hours later, several miles away, elsewhere in Brooklyn.

Video from the area captured moments leading up to the incident and is now part of the ongoing investigation. Officials have not publicly released the footage but confirmed that investigators are reviewing video evidence as part of their standard crash investigation procedures.

The intersection of 23rd Avenue and Bath Avenue is located in a neighborhood that sees increased pedestrian and vehicle activity during school arrival and dismissal times. Police have not released additional details about the precise sequence of movements that led to the collision beyond confirming the time, location, and charges filed.

First responders worked to secure the scene following the crash while investigators began documenting evidence from the roadway. Traffic in the immediate area was impacted as authorities conducted their preliminary assessment.

The NYPD has not indicated whether additional charges could be considered as the investigation continues. Fatal pedestrian crashes typically involve detailed examination of physical evidence, vehicle positioning, and video review before investigators finalize their findings.

Officials confirmed that the charges filed relate specifically to yielding to pedestrians and exercising due care while operating a vehicle in the vicinity of pedestrians. These determinations are made after reviewing evidence collected from the scene and any available recordings.

Police have not released information indicating whether any other vehicles were involved or whether there were additional injuries connected to the incident. The investigation remains active as authorities continue reviewing all available evidence.

The death of Aminova marks a tragic incident in a residential section of Brooklyn where families, students, and commuters regularly travel through neighborhood intersections throughout the day.

The NYPD continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and has not provided further public details at this time.

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