$26M Settlement Reached in N.J. School Pool Drowning Deaths of Teenage Brothers
The family of two teenage boys who drowned in a Bayonne public school pool free swim session has settled for $26 million. This ends a civil action that exposed school district worker deception and safety violations.
The deal follows the June 8, 2022 drowning of 19-year-old Chu Ming Zheng and 16-year-old Jack Jiang in the Lincoln Community School pool. Depositions and surveillance footage proved staff members made false claims, disregarded rules, and failed to manage the situation after the disaster, according to the family’s lawyers.
The court formalized the settlement on November 13. The North Jersey Educational Fund of the New Jersey Schools Insurance Group will pay. This fund enables member public schools share insurance and risk.
The lads were beginners learning to swim, witnesses said. They drowned after falling from a four-foot shallow shelf to a 13-foot diving hole drop. The case experts said that the pool’s shallow area near to a deep diving area provided consumers a false impression of safety. One false move may have endangered swimmers immediately.
Attorneys obtained security video showing that only two lifeguards were on duty during open swim hours, despite the district’s ordinance. In a deposition, one lifeguard denied helping either child in the water. After only saving one boy from the dive, the other worker in charge of a smaller kiddie pool section became concerned. Another teen was saved by a civilian swimmer.
More safety issues were revealed by witnesses and staff: — Several personnel first said three lifeguards were on duty, but video footage proved otherwise. — That night, there was no written emergency action plan. Untrained staff members led a busy and crowded session. Basic monitoring and reaction processes failed when the boys were in distress.
The family’s lawyers emphasized that the school pool has been closed since the drowning, and the Bayonne Board of Education may reopen or modify it. A district official did not discuss future safety or operating changes.
The family rejected a $14 million bid before closing. Their lawyer said no amount of money could replace the loss of two young lives, but the family wanted to resolve the case and raise awareness of the safety flaws that caused the fatalities.
Zheng had recently started college at Miami, while Jiang was still in high school at Bayonne. Their tragedies shattered the hearts of their family and community and raised questions about school safety and public swimming pool security.
Sources:
NJ local news reports
Statements from family attorneys
Court settlement documents
