Mom speaks out after son hit by car trying to board school bus

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — On Monday, we told you a seven-year-old boy was hit by a car while trying to board his school bus in New Hanover County. Now, his mother is speaking out.

Mahonna James says she wants two things: an apology from the woman that hit her son, and increased safety for children riding school buses.

“Yes I’m angry!” Mahonna said. “It ain’t gonna go away today, tomorrow, or the next day, because I’m gonna be angry for a while.”

James described the moments after her son Jalil was hit by a car while trying to get on his school bus.

“It was too much to come outside and see what his face looked like, to see that his shoes were kicked off his feet, so she hit him where his shoes flew,” James said. “And I believe if his book bag was not there, he would be worse off.”

Jalil was taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, and is recovering from minor injuries.

“[He has a] nasty scar on his right side, from his forehead all the way down underneath his neck,” James said. “Sore on one side. The scar is ugly, it took like all of the first layer of his skin off. He has trouble brushing his teeth because it’s swollen on one side.”

Highway Patrol cited the driver, 68-year-old Cheryl Feekes, for passing a stopped school bus. James believes this isn’t enough.

“How can you have a citation from passing the school bus with a stop sign, flashing lights, but there’s so many other laws, DWI’s, cruelty to animals, that has a greater punishment,” James said. “I don’t understand that.”

On top of this, James says she wants an apology from Feekes.

“The fact is, you didn’t take responsibility to the people that matter, which would be me, my husband, and foremost, my son,” she said.

James says she also wants more safety for school buses and the children riding them. She says more police have been patrolling the area since Monday, but she worries this may be temporary.

“Is this just because this incident happened this week, or are they going to continue to try to get more manpower for the little kids who can’t defend themselves?” James asked.

James says she’s just thankful her son wasn’t hurt worse or killed. She also says the community and her son’s school have been extremely supportive the past few days.