A Nigerian bus driver who allegedly used his mobile phone while driving, lost control of the vehicle which hit and knocked over a lamp post that fell on and killed an 8-month-old baby girl.
Idowu Daramola, 48, was driving in West New York, New Jersey, on July 30, afternoon, when the tragic incident occurred.
He was charged with reckless driving, using a cell phone while driving and death by auto.
Authorities in West NY said the bus crashed into a lamppost, which fell onto a baby stroller.
The bus then hit a tree, another lamppost and a parked car, which struck three other parked vehicles.
Officer Michael Stetson told he found the infant, Angela Paredes, bleeding from the head and not breathing. She died before they could get to the nearby hospital. Seven other people were injured in the same accident.
The bus was reportedly operated by Sphinx Transportation, which provides shuttle service between New Jersey and New York City.
The company has not commented on the accident.
"I heard a loud crash and people screaming," said Iris Pizarro, who lives in an apartment building across the street.
"That's when I ran to the window and saw the mother over the baby screaming, "My daughter! My baby!".
Daramola, who resides in Thornwood, NY, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of all the charges.
He is scheduled to appear in court on August 1 and is being held on $250,000 bail.
One can often see shuttle drivers, mostly immigrants, talking on cell phones as they drive, although it has been a violation of state law since 2007.
It is still not known whether Daramola was texting or talking on his cell when the accident occurred.
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