7 killed in school bus crash - MERGED

[ajc2804]

http://www.wjactv.com/news/6463433/detail.html


Here it states about the grandfather, and also a picture of the truck driver, it's on the bottom of the page.

The truck driver was arrested twice once in 1997 for accessory after the fact to murder and one in 1999 for prostitution.

 

[Lauren]

I don't even have the first clue how the surviving family members are supposed to go on after this. My heart is completely broken.

That is so very sad and tragic. I have no clue how ANYONE could go on. I would probably die of a broken heart. People do have amazing strength though.
Bless that mother. Give her extra strength, she is going to need it.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

http://www.wjactv.com/news/6463433/detail.html


Here it states about the grandfather, and also a picture of the truck driver, it's on the bottom of the page.

The truck driver was arrested twice once in 1997 for accessory after the fact to murder and one in 1999 for prostitution.

Dude never even hit the brakes. They think he may have been on his cell phone.

 

[Lauren]

Serious? I can't stand people who drive with their cell phones glued to their ears. Get the headset if you must. Still not safe. People get so distracted.
I am sure not with ill intent, but accidents happen. I don't think I could live with what he has done to a whole family.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Serious? I can't stand people who drive with their cell phones glued to their ears. Get the headset if you must. Still not safe. People get so distracted.
I am sure not with ill intent, but accidents happen. I don't think I could live with what he has done to a whole family.

There was most likely no "intent" to kill these people, but as you know, that won't preclude him from manslaughter charges. I hope he'll never be released from prison.

 

[Mabel]

Let's not forget about the 5 children on the school bus that are still hospitalized, 2 in critical condition and 3 in serious condition.

I have to wonder what company Alvin Wilkerson was driving for. Most trucking companies won't hire drivers with records like his.

 

[calus_3]

Calus, I was 15 when I got my drivers license and was required to drive my siblings around for all their activities.

Wow, that may have worked out well for you but I was no where READY to be on the road carrying other kids or what not without an adult!!!!!

I don't want to be on the road with 15 year olds on it, no offense--heck, I don't want to be on it with 16-18 year olds. I wasn't ready and I was considered way ahead of my time with regards to maturity.....since then maturity has all gone to hell quickly, but in my day......

That's unbelievable.

Cal

 

[Lauren]

As a mother of kids that drive. I think they should have a lane for just teenagers who drive. Have nothing but pillows and tires, like. Like bumper bowling.
I sure don not want to be on the road with a 15 year. I also don't want to be on the road with a reckless driver. Things happens so fast. No one wins out of this tragedy.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Wow, that may have worked out well for you but I was no where READY to be on the road carrying other kids or what not without an adult!!!!!

I don't want to be on the road with 15 year olds on it, no offense--heck, I don't want to be on it with 16-18 year olds. I wasn't ready and I was considered way ahead of my time with regards to maturity.....since then maturity has all gone to hell quickly, but in my day......

That's unbelievable.

Cal

You're exactly right Cal. Its just too damn much responsibility for a kid. My oldest and the next child are 13 years apart. I never even made him babysit at home, much less take him out in a VEHICLE for Christ sake! I applaud this family for adopting so many children and my heart is completely aching for this mother's loss. However, if families have so many children that they cannot handle the responsibilities of the day-to-day care of them, perhaps they shouldn't keep piling on more and more. :truce: :truce:

 

[13th Juror]

<huge snips as the info is already posted>

It was unclear why the children were unaccompanied.

Evidence from the scene showed that the truck, which was carrying bottled water, did not brake before hitting the car on the two-lane road, said Lt. Mike Burroughs of the Florida Highway Patrol.

The bus ended up 200 feet from where the car struck it, and the cab of the truck lay overturned near the scene, Burroughs said. The bus was at an approved bus stop, but it was not immediately clear whether children were getting on or off.

"It's a very chaotic scene", Burroughs said. "It's just a mangled, charred mess."

Injuries of bus passengers unknown

Nine students were on the bus, and three were thrown from the vehicle by the force of the crash. But the extent of their injuries was also unclear.

State police said three were seriously hurt and six others suffered minor injuries. Hospital officials said two were in critical condition and three were in serious condition.

The drivers of the bus and the truck were also taken to a hospital. The truck driver suffered minor injuries, and authorities planned to interview him.

The bus driver was thrown from the vehicle, and her condition was not immediately known.

The car was driven by 15-year-old Nicki Mann, who was with siblings Elizabeth Mann, 15; Johnny Mann, 13; Heaven Mann, 3; Ashley Kenn, 13; Miranda Finn, who was either 8 or 9 years old; and Anthony Lamb, who was almost two years old. Lamb was in the process of being adopted, Burroughs said.

The bus was operated by the Union County school district, which has three schools from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade in the area about 60 miles southwest of Jacksonville.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team of investigators.

Fatal accidents involving school buses are relatively rare. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 71 passengers and 42 drivers have been killed since 1994 in school vehicles, an average of about 10 people per year.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11026058/

 

[dark_shadows]

pm EST January 26, 2006


LAKE BUTLER, Fla. -- A family reeling from the deaths of of seven children in a fiery crash on a Florida highway Wednesday afternoon was struck with more tragedy when the children's grandfather suffered a heart attack and died.

Upon hearing the news that all of his grandchildren were killed when a semi smashed into the family's car that had stopped for a school bus, Edwin Scott started feeling sick and vomiting. The children of both of his daughters were killed.




http://www.thechamplainchannel.com/news/6463433/detail.html

 

[Jules]

Wow, that may have worked out well for you but I was no where READY to be on the road carrying other kids or what not without an adult!!!!!

I don't want to be on the road with 15 year olds on it, no offense--heck, I don't want to be on it with 16-18 year olds. I wasn't ready and I was considered way ahead of my time with regards to maturity.....since then maturity has all gone to hell quickly, but in my day......

That's unbelievable.

Cal

I agree with you 100%. I wasn't ready at 15 and my daughter was 18 before she got her license. She came to us and told us she wanted to wait. :clap:

My niece, however, got hers at 15. I can't begin to tell you how many fender benders she's been in. I've lost count.

 

[13th Juror]

Wow, that may have worked out well for you but I was no where READY to be on the road carrying other kids or what not without an adult!!!!!

I don't want to be on the road with 15 year olds on it, no offense--heck, I don't want to be on it with 16-18 year olds. I wasn't ready and I was considered way ahead of my time with regards to maturity.....since then maturity has all gone to hell quickly, but in my day......

That's unbelievable.

Cal

I totally agree, Cal - on everything in your post. My sentiments exactly!

My parents allowed me to obtain my permanent driver's license on my 16th birthday but there was a caveat. I was permitted to drive "solo" - but, until my 17th birthday, I was not allowed to drive with any other passengers (siblings included!) accompanying me unless one of my parents was also a passenger.

Most of my friend's parents allowed them full freedom to drive around with their friends - and many were given their own car on their 16th birthday. At the time - I thought my parents were being terribly unfair as I was an honor student and very responsible.

When each of my kids turned 16 and acquired their licenses - I instituted the same rule with a few exceptions for the boys after 6 months. (Kinda hard to date a gal if you can't have a passenger - lol) Same pre-requisites as I had before getting my license - a 3.5 grade average and Driver's Ed when they got their restricted learners permit at 14.

I'm pleased to say that none of my kids excuse me, 'young adults' have ever caused an accident and are extremely careful drivers - at least when I'm out with them. <lol>

Still - with the daredevil immaturity I'm seeing out on our overburdened roadways (down here in Central Fla) - I really wish the age for driving was at least 18. Way too many young teen accidents especially involving drugs, alcohol & parental permissiveness - something not so prevalent in the early 60's when I was a teen.

I feel such deep sorrow for Barbara, the mother of the 7 children who perished in the fiery crash, but I am appalled that she apparently allowed her 15 yr. old unlicensed daughter to taxi her 6 siblings and even another 15 yr. old girl, who thankfully was dropped off safely.

8 Children in one car - being driven by 1 unlicensed 15 yr. old girl??? I'm stunned & bewildered how any responsible parent would allow that - unless it was a dire emergency. Why? What was she thinkng???

Have to hope the derelict truck driver spends many many years behind bars. He was on a cell phone??? :furious:

13th Juror

 

[PrayersForMaura]

pm EST January 26, 2006


LAKE BUTLER, Fla. -- A family reeling from the deaths of of seven children in a fiery crash on a Florida highway Wednesday afternoon was struck with more tragedy when the children's grandfather suffered a heart attack and died.

Upon hearing the news that all of his grandchildren were killed when a semi smashed into the family's car that had stopped for a school bus, Edwin Scott started feeling sick and vomiting. The children of both of his daughters were killed.




http://www.thechamplainchannel.com/news/6463433/detail.html

I had just seen this story.
How sad
This makes my stomach hurt.

 

[dark_shadows]

I had just seen this story.
How sad
This makes my stomach hurt.

Hi PrayersForMaura,how are you?
It is a very sad story.
Why that girl was driving is beyond me.15 and no licence.
I am from Jersey and moved to Vermont years ago.When I went to school we had drivers ed.We did not just drive around with the instructor,we had classes that we attended.We learned how to drive safe in adverse weather conditions,ect.Thanks to those classes I am a safe driver.We learned safe driving and respect for the road.Driving is a privilege not a right,that girl had no right to be on the road.Our school also had us go on a field trip to the morgue....yes the morgue.It was a very important learning tool.I could not find the info from my school about this to post for you,but here is a link to another state that does this in their classes.It is the same concept.
http://www.grundyco.org/coroner/Driver%20Ed.htm

 

[Beyond Belief]

No matter what legal charges are brought the truck driver will be a prisoner in his mind for the rest of his life.

We all answered the driving poll about how young we all were when we first drove a car. This could have been anyone of us, once upon a time. This is so tragic I am having a hard time dealing with it.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

Hi PrayersForMaura,how are you?
It is a very sad story.
Why that girl was driving is beyond me.15 and no licence.
I am from Jersey and moved to Vermont years ago.When I went to school we had drivers ed.We did not just drive around with the instructor,we had classes that we attended.We learned how to drive safe in adverse weather conditions,ect.Thanks to those classes I am a safe driver.We learned safe driving and respect for the road.Driving is a privilege not a right,that girl had no right to be on the road.Our school also had us go on a field trip to the morgue....yes the morgue.It was a very important learning tool.I could not find the info from my school about this to post for you,but here is a link to another state that does this in their classes.It is the same concept.
http://www.grundyco.org/coroner/Driver%20Ed.htm

I am doing ok ... just dealing with some mean people today
I like my dogs, they are much nicer

This story is killing me. The poor grandpa, it was too much for him.
And all of those innocent kids in that car

I don't know why that girl was driving either. I am so lucky I have been a pretty safe driver, too, but at 15 I didn't know as much then as I know now. I wasn't as confident. Even so, you still always have to watch out for the other driver, no matter how safe you are at any age. Even if it wasn't her driving and it was her mother, would this have happened? And I have to wonder about that truck driver and what may have been distracting him? Something as simple as a spider crawling on his leg, or a sneeze even? Or being tired, or driving too fast?

What a field trip that must've been for you!
Goodness grief!
A morgue!
Thanks for the link. I will need to look at that.
I'm always looking for more info.

Prayers for this family, the truck driver and the surviving people from the bus.
I hope everyone can come away from this with something positive.
It's such a sad, traumatic event.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

As a mother of kids that drive. I think they should have a lane for just teenagers who drive. Have nothing but pillows and tires, like. Like bumper bowling.
I sure don not want to be on the road with a 15 year. I also don't want to be on the road with a reckless driver. Things happens so fast. No one wins out of this tragedy.

My car ran out of gas at a busy intersection right across the street from a gas station last night. I thought I had enough to get me to and from work the last few days, and it was cold and I procratinated too long. I hate pumping gas in the cold and I've been too busy. Ther reason I brought this up was because I had my flashers on and my lights were dimming a bit was I was trying to milk the car for my last few drops of gas and I saw these cars in my rear view mirror coming up so fast behind me, and the fear of God was running through me as my heart was pumping. These darned teens almost rear ended me last night as I was helpless at the stop light, unable to move the car. They missed me at the last second and swerved around me and I saw them, it was all in slow motion.
I will not let myself run out of gas again, needless to say. Luckily, some nice man pushed me into the gas station. I was pretty embarrassed. :blushing:

Even on the roads and the highways, I see a lot of teen boys racing and trying to change lanes around each other, cutting me off and other cars, weaving in out of traffic WHILE TALKING ON CELL PHONES.
I saw a policeman on a cell phone too, driving, yesterday, by the way.
Anyway, it makes me nervous driving on the highway with road rage and these youngsters weaving in and out of the lanes speeding. I'm afraid I am going to get blind-sided.

But regarding this particular accident yesterday, I almost tend to think that either the car or the semi was tailgating or something for this accident to have occurre, don't you think?
The impact seemed pretty great for a winding road.
I know I was taught to leave plenty of room between me and the car ahead of me so that if you do get hit, you don't fly into the car ahead of you. But maybe not. I don't know...

This is all so sad

 

[concernedperson]

You're exactly right Cal. Its just too damn much responsibility for a kid. My oldest and the next child are 13 years apart. I never even made him babysit at home, much less take him out in a VEHICLE for Christ sake! I applaud this family for adopting so many children and my heart is completely aching for this mother's loss. However, if families have so many children that they cannot handle the responsibilities of the day-to-day care of them, perhaps they shouldn't keep piling on more and more. :truce: :truce:

Actually, I totally agree. I was changing diapers at 8 and babysitting twins when I was 11. So the progression to chaffeur at 15 was predictable. There were 6 children and I was the oldest.

Of course none of this kind of thing went on with my own kids. They had to have drivers ed and got a learners permit at 16 with me in the car.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Actually, I totally agree. I was changing diapers at 8 and babysitting twins when I was 11. So the progression to chaffeur at 15 was predictable. There were 6 children and I was the oldest.

Of course none of this kind of thing went on with my own kids. They had to have drivers ed and got a learners permit at 16 with me in the car.

I completely understand!!! I got stuck doing several things for my two younger sisters that I had no business doing either. That's the main reason I was so sensitive to my son's feelings when his younger brother and sister came along. It creates resentment to a certain degree, I think, that siblings can certainly do without.