UNION COUNTY, N.C. -- A family is showing NB Charlotte the burns one girl suffered during a school bus ride in Union County.
"Just a long, painful process," family attorney William Goldfarb says of his client's case.
This bus ride was anything but routine for a 13-year-old Porter Ridge Middle School student and three others.
Bus 302 was carrying kids home when hot antifreeze began leaking onto the legs and feet of students.
"Both feet, both legs and some on the knee area as well," Goldfarb says.
The Thomas MVP Rear Engine bus is one of 25 In Union County. After a student was burned in Wake County in 2012, the state recommended the antifreeze hose fittings be inspected and replaced. Records indicate Bus 302 was checked on April 15, but, according to the state, the fittings weren't replaced.
One month later, "she's still on an air mattress in the middle of her den," Goldfarb tells NBC Charlotte. "She's going to require a wheelchair and she hasn't been in school ever since this happened."
Goldfarb represents the family of the 13-year-old girl and another student who was burned.
"They're also concerned about the safety of the children all over North Carolina."
Since the incident, he has been asking Union County Schools for access to Bus 302.
"Still we've not been allowed to get on the bus and I don't know why that is."
With no success, Goldfarb filed a claim for damages with the North Carolina Industrial Commission. While the claim lists damages of $500,000, the immediate goal is to inspect the bus to find out why a routine ride home went terribly wrong.
"And I just think it is strange, and I don't understand why we have to do this in order to go on the bus with an engineer and find out exactly what happened," he says. "It makes me think, what are they trying to hide?"
NBC Charlotte is told Union County has turned over the case to the North Carolina Attorney General.
Since our first story, the state has ordered all Thomas rear engine buses that transport children have the antifreeze to the heaters shut off immediately with inspections and necessary repairs completed by August 1.
