URGENT UPDATE: An 8-year-old girl is recovering in the hospital after a shocking incident where a man threw a rock into a school bus in Teaneck, New Jersey. The girl suffered a fractured skull and underwent surgery following the attack, which occurred just after 2 p.m. on August 23, 2023.
Police have arrested Hernando Garcia Morales, a 40-year-old from Palisades Park, for allegedly throwing a baseball-sized rock into the bus transporting students from Yeshivat Noam. The bus was returning from a field trip to the Liberty Science Center when the incident unfolded on the northbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike.
Authorities report that the rock shattered the glass and struck the young girl, leaving her with severe injuries. Fortunately, no other students were harmed during this distressing event. The Jewish Federation has issued a statement acknowledging the incident and is closely monitoring the situation as the investigation continues.
Morales faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He was apprehended at a makeshift campsite in Old Croaker County Park, where police connected him to similar rock-throwing incidents in Bogota Borough, Bergen County.
Investigators are still working to determine the motive behind the attack, especially as the bus had no identifiable markings indicating it was affiliated with a Jewish school. Meanwhile, the young girl’s condition is stabilizing, and she is expected to recover fully.
As this story develops, officials urge anyone with additional information to come forward. The community is rallying around the young girl and her family, highlighting the urgent need for safety measures during school transport. Stay tuned for more updates on this troubling situation.
