Teenager struck in school bus accident at Avenue P and Bedford Avenue, Midwood
August 25, 2025 | Brooklyn, NY
A 15-year-old girl was fatally struck by a school bus Monday morning while walking to school in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Police said Antonina Zatulovska was crossing Avenue P around 7:55 a.m. when the bus, turning onto Bedford Avenue, hit her. The driver, identified as 55-year-old Aleksandr Patlakh, initially stopped before leaving the scene. Zatulovska was pronounced dead on site.
Antonina Zatulovska, 15, was tragically struck and killed by a school bus Monday morning in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Patlakh has been charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care. Authorities say additional charges may follow as the case remains under investigation.
SCHOOL BUS CRASH INVESTIGATION
School buses can hit innocent pedestrians for a variety of reasons, including driver error, distracted driving, driver inattention, speeding, and failure to follow safety rules.
School bus-related crashes killed 128 people nationwide in 2023, up 23 percent compared to the 104 deaths in 2022, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Candice Bond, an experienced school bus accident attorney, said in cases such as this, it's imperative to have an independent probe conducted to protect a victim’s grieving family.
“Having the proper resources is extremely important to investigate a school bus crash case and prove negligence,” said Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. “School bus crashes are often complex, and companies often utilize large law firms to defend a negligent driver. An attorney can advocate for a family that lost a loved one by hiring expert witnesses, conducting drivers’ background checks, and locating witnesses to the crash, while carefully guiding a victim through the legal process.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
The family members of Antonina Zatulovska may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain, suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident.
“We understand just what families are forced to go through, and having their rights protected is vital,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal. “A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that their best interests are taken care of. Relatives of wrongful death victims are entitled to seek damages for the loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident.”
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Candice Bond, national legal analyst for Newsline, has extensive experience with fatal pedestrian accidents. If you or a loved one needs help, she offers free consultations.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).
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