Boy dies after fall out window of Dumont school

Darla Miles Image
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Student dies after falling from second-story window at Dumont school
Josh Einiger reports from Dumont.

DUMONT (WABC) -- A 10-year-old boy has died Friday after falling from a window at his school in New Jersey.

"When I looked, there was a lady in the window, like you know, talking to the people down below frantically," said Elmer Pascia, an eyewitness.

Underneath a second floor window and out on the concrete, emergency crews, teachers, and onlookers all frantically tried to help a fifth-grade boy from the Grant School in Dumont, New Jersey.

"I saw him moving, wearing trousers, I saw him moving his legs, and his hands, and they were attending to him," Pascia said.

Sources say the boy jumped from a classroom window during lunch period, and that a teacher's aide and students were in the room at the time.

It apparently happened after a game of chess that ended with an argument. The boy then reportedly wrote a note and jumped from the window.

"There were a number of students who were in the classroom and we've provided them with some assistance and we will continue to provide them with assistance through the weekend and on Monday," said Emanuel Triggiano, Dumont Schools superintendent.

Grant Street was closed down for the three-hour investigation to cars, pedestrians, and parents.

"It's very concerning, but stuff happens, it happens, we don't know what really happened. We have to find that out," said Jay Poche, a parent.

Other parents waited patiently outside with serious concerns about security and supervision.

"What was the teacher doing? You know, what was she doing? How come she didn't see the kid go near the window?" said Joe Zapata, a parent.

"Why are there not safety guard windows for the second floor to prevent something like this? How did the window open, how wide?" said Ana Nunez, an aunt.

"It's sad, we don't know anything," said Anna Nicolaides, a parent.

He was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center where he later died.