US Edition2 Educators Charged with Manslaughter After Girl, 12, Drowns on School Field Trip
BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS, JUN 26 – Two educators face charges after failing to enforce swim tests and supervision rules during a field trip where 35 students swam simultaneously, leading to a 12-year-old's drowning.
- On July 17, 2024, twelve-year-old Giver Essien drowned while participating in a Pittsfield Public Schools field trip held at Beartown State Forest near Great Barrington.
- Investigations found that safety laws were not followed, with over 35 students allowed to swim at once despite a permit for 25 and no swim tests administered.
- At least three children told site supervisor Meghan Braley that Essien could not swim and had gone underwater, but those warnings were ignored and no proper swim safety systems were in place.
- Essien was pulled from Benedict Pond at 1:58 p.m. after staff realized she was missing only after students boarded the bus, and the death was ruled a drowning.
- Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue has charged Linda Whitacre, a program coordinator, and Meghan Braley, who served as the site supervisor, with involuntary manslaughter and related misdemeanors. Whitacre’s arraignment is planned for mid-July, while Braley’s is set for August.
Insights by Ground AI
Does this summary seem wrong?
13 Articles
13 Articles
Suspect in Holland murder case due back in court
HOLLAND, Mass. (WWLP) - Jonathan Poirier is due back in court for a hearing on Friday before going to trial for the murder of a man from Sturbridge. Two individuals charged in death of 12-year-old, who drowned during school field trip at Beartown State Forest Jonathan Poirier has been held without a right to bail since March 10, when he was arrested. He was charged with murder after an investigation was sparked when the body of 29-year-old…
·Springfield, United States
Read Full Article
Two Pittsfield educators charged with involuntary manslaughter in drowning of 12-year-old at summer program - The Boston Globe
"A series of preventable and reckless oversights directly contributed to the unintentional death of a child," Berkshire District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue said.
·Boston, United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left1Leaning Right1Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution85% Center
Bias Distribution
- 85% of the sources are Center
85% Center
C 85%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
