School nurse dies after ‘accidental collision’ with student, but family wants accountability
WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. (Gray News) – A school nurse in Missouri died after an “accidental collision” with a student, according to local reports.
A report from KTVI identified the nurse as Angie Birk, who was just one month into her new job at KVC Academy – Edgewood in Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis.
KVC Missouri, according to its website, is “the state’s most comprehensive children’s mental health and family services provider.”
KVC provides family-strengthening services, foster care, outpatient and residential children’s mental health treatment, K-12 therapeutic education, therapeutic adventure and wilderness programs and more.
The KTVI report says Birk was critically injured on March 15 and spent six days in the hospital before she died.
The death prompted an OSHA investigation, in which officials found “an accidental collision occurred between a client and nurse while the client was de-escalating from disruptive behaviors.”
A report from The Webster-Kirkwood Times said Birk suffered head trauma and underwent surgery for a brain bleed, but she never regained consciousness.
Local police denied requests for further information since the death involves a juvenile student.
KVC Missouri President Lindsey Stephenson said in a statement to KTVI, in part, that “This was an unfortunate accidental collision between two people.”
Stephenson said KVC Missouri has fully cooperated with the investigation and are “deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague.”
OSHA did not issue any citations to the school, but investigators found employees at the school “may be exposed to hazards associated with workplace violence.”
Birk’s sister told KTVI she believes her sister was not trained well enough to work in an environment with special needs students.
According to the Webster-Kirkwood Times, Birk was 51 and left behind two daughters, ages 17 and 21.
Her family told the newspaper they believe the school failed Birk and “we want the school accountable for what happened to her.”
The family did not comment on whether they are considering legal action.
KVC Missouri has more than 20 locations, according to its website.
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