BLOOMFIELD NJ–It have been two years July 18, 2012 since Mr. Deshon Johnson life have been tragically taken by Coach USA bus driver Wilson Romaine while operating NJ Transit bus 709 knocked Johnson down on Broad and dragged him to his last breath onto Bay Avenue in Bloomfield New Jersey, where his lifeless body lied disfigured. The Essex County Prosecutor ruled Deshon’s demise as an accident. Ms. Johnson share with me that her son’s case was presented before a group of 12 juries which she was invited by Erica Lui to sit outside while the Grand Jury were in session, back in February 2013. Due to an epidemic of the flu virus outbreak going around few of the juries were out sick an unable to be present, therefore; the case was postpone to March according to assistance prosecutor Erica Lui. Ms. Johnson told me that Miss Lui called her and told her that she could not be anywhere in or near the building during the Grand Jury is in session. I am perplexed why Miss Lui told Ms. Johnson that she can sit outside while the Grand Jury was in session back in February, but not in March. Ms. Johnson gave her advocate law Saulti information of witness statements that refuted to Johnson was not the cause of his demise as the prosecutor trying to proclaim. To this day we do not know what information was provided to the Grand Jury back in March of 2013 to allow this bus driver to walk free from vehicle homicide or manslaughter for Mr. Johnson unlawful death.
A few day ago, Ms. Johnson share some shocking new evidence that the bus driver said he saw Mr. Johnson and NJ Transit lawyer coaching him on saying remember you did not see anyone. When I heard the audio, grief and sadden overwhelm my body for Ms. Johnson, also as a parent with one child. As Ms. Johnson continue to share with me the ongoing cold hearten behavior she have been enduring with Bloomfield township or NJ Transit on the removal of her son’s Deshon Johnson memorial on Bay Avenue taken down less than a few hour the same day it was put up, my heart just went out to her either more. Ms Johnson have been going through a lot of insensitive stone hearten behavior with NJ Transit, Essex County Vehicular Homicide Prosecutor Office and the township of Bloomfield NJ. Ms. Johnson stated her son’s life was taken in vain.
Since, the tragic demise of her only son Ms. Johnson have been emailing, calling law makers to start a bill in her son’s name the Deshon Johnson’s law. She has been lobbying and advocating against reckless bus drivers and state company be held accountable for innocent lives taken. Ms. Johnson started an online petition on change.org campaign. I asked Ms Johnson who did she called and did she have a politician willing to help her with sponsor her bill. “Ms. Johnson said she called House Speaker Sheila Oliver, Freeholder Brendan Gill, the late United State Senator Frank Lautenberg, and State Senator Nia Gill, Congressman Donald Pain Junior, Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin, and Sheila Oliver Chief of Staff Chris James two names of few.
Ms. Johnson said that Sheila Oliver said she will meet with her back in 2012 but that never happen. Nia Gill never made any arrangement to meet with Ms. Johnson either.
Mr. Johnson has been gone for two years and his mother still is frightened to get a bill in her son’s name. Ms. Johnson said, she wrote President Obama, Corey Booker and contact Governor Chris Christie August 2012, March 2013, June 2013 about the injustice treatment she have been receiving and poor investigation on her son’s case. Governor Christiedid not responded to Ms Johnson two of her email but the third email he responded with a general electronic letter on July 2013 stating he will get someone to call her, but that never happen.
Back in July 13, 2013 an 8-month-old baby was struck and killed by NJ Transit bus driver. The bus driver was charged. After an accident involving a jitney bus in July, transportation union officials and politicians today pledged the girl’s death will not be in vain. A few months later Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, started a “Angelie’s Law,” a state measure named after Angelie Paredes, the North Bergen girl killed on Boulevard East on July 30, would put the commuter bus industry under sharp new regulations. Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, who is set to become the state Assembly’s speaker in January, said passing the law will be one of his top priorities.
“Tragedies like this shouldn’t happen,” he said.
NJ Transit and the politician turn closed ears on Ms. Johnson requested and issues lay beforehand. They act as if Mr. Johnson life is of no impertinence.
NJ Transit bus drivers have commercial driver’s licenses, are supposed to be drug tested and go through background checks, and that’s not the case for Romaine bus drivers, according to Ms. Johnson. Deshon was killed when, NJ Transit was driven by Coach USA 62 year old Wilson Romaine jumped a curb and hit Mr. Johnson dragged him to his demise 50 to 100 feet. Authorities claim Romaine did not see Mr. Johnson but the audio where Romaine was giving his statement, saying he saw Mr. Johnson. Romaine said that Mr. Johnson was hit on the left which was fabrication, it happens on the right. Mr. Romaine should not have been operating a bus, he had others vehicular incident before and after Mr. Johnson demise. Romaine had an incident that causes him to take up a defensive driving course. Romaine driving record is not clean. Also, Romaine is on high blood pressure medication. Romaine was not charged for Mr. Johnson demise he walk away a free man but the eight month old baby who was killed by 49 year old Idowu Daramola bus driver jumped a curb and hit a pole that came crashing down on the infant, who was in a stroller. The bus driver was charged with death by auto and reckless driving.Ms. Johnson was trying to pass a law that the bus should wait a few seconds for passengers like the train, proper safety training, stiffer penalty, federal should take of stat investigation to prevent political corruption with county prosecutor office, no one who worked for NJ Transit as an accident reconstruction should not be in charged with NJ Transit vehicular homicide like Vincent Nardone, which can be a conflict of interest/biases to the cases of NJ Transit death victims, increase the amount of insurance force for Coach USA buses drivers to register with the municipalities to ensure they have a clean driving record every six months and valid commercial driver’s licenses, one place for testing that do not involve NJ Transit or vehicular homicide worker with relationship with bus company, bus drivers lose their license, make the law a safety federal issue across the world .
No, politician do not want to support Ms Johnson bill, she still fighting for social justice, criminal justice and equal justice going on two years. Ms. Johnson could not any press conference with a major new station but Mr. Paredes did.
Yet, it took Angelie’s Law a few months after her tragic life ended for a politician to sponsor a bill in her name. Why! What is the difference between the two victims? Both parents will not be able to see their child again because of reckless bus driving. The death rate with NJ Transit, Coach USA, Jitney, MTA and other bus companies are increasing at an alarming rate. NJ Transit needs to do an intensive background check on subcontracting buses companies drivers and their own bus drivers. Why a law maker is not helping this mother to pass a law in Deshon’s name? Is there some type of political connection with Bloomfield township and the state to prevent a law in her son’s name. What do you think?