GUILTY TN - Six elementary students killed in Chattanooga school bus crash, 21 Nov 2016

[KaaBoom]

Students complained about erratic driving before Chattanooga bus accident

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Students and administrators raised concerns about a Tennessee school bus driver's behavior behind the wheel in the weeks before a crash that killed six children.

Records released by the school district Friday include two written statements by students complaining about Walker's driving.

"The bus driver drives fast," one student wrote earlier this month. "It feels like the bus is going to flip over... When someone is in the aisle he stops the bus and he makes people hit their heads."

Another student wrote: "The bus driver was doing sharp turns and he made me fly over to the next seat. We need seat belts."

On Nov. 2, a school official boarded the bus after the driver complained that students were not listening him. One student had complained about the heat on the bus and cursed about it to the bus driver.

http://abc7ny.com/news/students-com...ving-before-chattanooga-bus-accident/1625811/

There is so much wrong with that article.

The school district's transportation supervisor, Benjamin Coulter, responded that "we are addressing the issue with the driver."

Benjamin Coulter should also be charged in this case. He is every bit as responsible for those student's deaths for failing to take any action, as the bus driver was. "We are addressing the issue with the driver." is not an acceptable response to a reckless school bus driver. Especially when there are so many complaints from students, parents, and school district employees. Unfortunately he will never be charged, he won't even lose his job. He will continue to do is job just as incompetently as in the past.

The bus driver had also complained to administrators that students would not listen to him when he told them not stand in the bus or sit with their backs facing the front. The driver submitted 10 names of students he said were misbehaving. The transportation supervisor responded that the driver may have had some legitimate safety concerns but that the driver shouldn't report so many students.

"I don't want the driver to become discouraged, but he can't be turning 10 referrals in a day to you, either," Coulter wrote.

Why wouldn't the driver become discouraged? He has 10 students misbehaving, but can't submit that many referrals? :facepalm: The administrator was incompetent, and he is the real cause of this tragedy. He didn't take actions on complaints on students from the bus driver. He didn't take complaints on the bus driver from students, parents, and school district employees.

 

[KaaBoom]

The person(s) that hired this driver and ignored deeply concerning complaints about his driving in the weeks prior to this tragedy should be fired. If they had took these complaints seriously and took appropriate action this tragedy may have been avoided.

I agree, but I don't think he should just be fired. He should be charged with the same charges as the bus driver was. He is every bit as responsible for these students deaths as the bus driver was. Not only did he not take the complaints on the bus driver seriously, but he also didn't take the complaints on students from the bus driver seriously. He is a terribly incompetent administrator.

 

[Inthedetails]

I agree, but I don't think he should just be fired. He should be charged with the same charges as the bus driver was. He is every bit as responsible for these students deaths as the bus driver was. Not only did he not take the complaints on the bus driver seriously, but he also didn't take the complaints on students from the bus driver seriously. He is a terribly incompetent administrator.

It's my understanding that the supervisor who told the driver not to submit so many names of misbehaving children was his supervisor from the transportation company, not someone from the school.

But, yes, I think the school totally failed in this case. They knew about a dangerous situation on that bus....and they let kids board the bus with that driver anyway.

This tragedy was entirely, 100% preventable.

Un-f'ing-believable.

jmopinion

 

[CARIIS]

Me, too! I am really trying to be compassionate. But this post and the one before it, make that nearly impossible.

And the fact that the school has written complaints is really scary.

What is bewildering me is if this dude is driving all over town in a school bus laying rubber where are the cops and tickets.

I think a school bus driving around like that would def cause attn because it is so not OK imo

Not saying that is not what was happening -but there is something visual about a school bus going fast in rural roads would stand out to me - to a cop especially??

He would have lots of exposure to a ticket just by the numbers of hours on the road??

 

[KaaBoom]

It's my understanding that the supervisor who told the driver not to submit so many names of misbehaving children was his supervisor from the transportation company, not someone from the school.

But, yes, I think the school totally failed in this case. They knew about a dangerous situation on that bus....and they let kids board the bus with that driver anyway.

This tragedy was entirely, 100% preventable.

Un-f'ing-believable.

jmopinion

I believe your understanding of it is wrong. Look at the quotes in the article.

"I don't want the driver to become discouraged, but he can't be turning 10 referrals in a day to you, either," Coulter wrote.

That quote is direct from the school district's transportation supervisor, Benjamin Coulter. This problem goes all the way to the top of the school district. Sure the bus company manager was probably the one who told the bus driver, but the decision was made by the school district's transportation supervisor. If the people at the top are not held accountable, then nothing will ever change.

 

[Jax49]

As I see it, the driver is still the ultimate cause of this tragedy. Others may share responsibility, but he was the one holding the steering wheel. He was the one driving off his route; he was the one who was speeding.

MOO

 

[KaaBoom]

As I see it, the driver is still the ultimate cause of this tragedy. Others may share responsibility, but he was the one holding the steering wheel. He was the one driving off his route; he was the one who was speeding.

MOO

Yes, and he is in jail for that, and will probably stay there for sometime to come. Meanwhile the school board will continue to contract out the bus service to the lowest bidder, who in return will continue to hire the cheapest drivers, and the school district's transportation supervisor will continue to ignore complaints about dangerous drivers. Why wouldn't they? They have zero accountability.

 

[Elley Mae]

From what i am seeing on fox news is he was a known problem, they didn't seem to know how to fire him. I wonder if a family/friend helped to keep him employed. Lot's of lawsuits on the way, as they should.

 

[CARIIS]

Yes, and he is in jail for that, and will probably stay there for sometime to come. Meanwhile the school board will continue to contract out the bus service to the lowest bidder, who in return will continue to hire the cheapest drivers, and the school district's transportation supervisor will continue to ignore complaints about dangerous drivers. Why wouldn't they? They have zero accountability.

I know sometimes I seem like a softie but I believe him. Actions speak louder than words , so lets see what he actually does financially etc for these folks

ceo of bus company

http://pix11.com/2016/11/24/bus-company-ceo-apologizes-for-chattanooga-crash-in-emotional-video/

 

[Spellbound]

Students complained about erratic driving before Chattanooga bus accident

-
Students and administrators raised concerns about a Tennessee school bus driver's behavior behind the wheel in the weeks before a crash that killed six children.

Records released by the school district Friday include two written statements by students complaining about Walker's driving.

"The bus driver drives fast," one student wrote earlier this month. "It feels like the bus is going to flip over... When someone is in the aisle he stops the bus and he makes people hit their heads."

Another student wrote: "The bus driver was doing sharp turns and he made me fly over to the next seat. We need seat belts."

On Nov. 2, a school official boarded the bus after the driver complained that students were not listening him. One student had complained about the heat on the bus and cursed about it to the bus driver.

http://abc7ny.com/news/students-com...ving-before-chattanooga-bus-accident/1625811/

The person(s) that hired this driver and ignored deeply concerning complaints about his driving in the weeks prior to this tragedy should be fired. If they had took these complaints seriously and took appropriate action this tragedy may have been avoided.

It's my understanding that the supervisor who told the driver not to submit so many names of misbehaving children was his supervisor from the transportation company, not someone from the school.

But, yes, I think the school totally failed in this case. They knew about a dangerous situation on that bus....and they let kids board the bus with that driver anyway.

This tragedy was entirely, 100% preventable.

Un-f'ing-believable.

jmopinion

What is bewildering me is if this dude is driving all over town in a school bus laying rubber where are the cops and tickets.

I think a school bus driving around like that would def cause attn because it is so not OK imo

Not saying that is not what was happening -but there is something visual about a school bus going fast in rural roads would stand out to me - to a cop especially??

He would have lots of exposure to a ticket just by the numbers of hours on the road??

As I see it, the driver is still the ultimate cause of this tragedy. Others may share responsibility, but he was the one holding the steering wheel. He was the one driving off his route; he was the one who was speeding.

MOO

if all these alleged reports are true, then the driver was known to be irresponsible and should not have been driving school busses. What is not clear to me is whether these allegations were also reported to the bus company with a request to remove him from the school system's busses.

As for having been spotted by police and ticketed when driving recklessly, rural areas are not known to have enough police units to be patrolling all the back roads so anyone can easily and often get away with poor driving.... until something like this happens. I think my big beef is the privatization of bus drivers .... it seems to take away a lot of the school's control. (I do not know if this is true, just an assumption on my part)

 

[Spellbound]

http://abc7ny.com/news/students-com...ving-before-chattanooga-bus-accident/1625811/

OMG.... I should have read the article before I posted previously. This article is so damning that I am left speechless. When safety of little children are such a priority, he should have been immediately removed from driving.

JMO

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

I feel so badly for all these kids.....they were treated almost like hostages. You want a ride home from school? Okay, your only option is to hop on this bus and be at this driver/madman's mercy. They had no choice but to dutifully line up, hop in, sit down, hold on tightly and be terrorized by this jacka$$. My heart breaks for all these innocent children.

 

[K_Z]

There is a small comfort we can all take in this-- and that is the robust sentencing guidelines in Tennessee for vehicular manslaughter.

JW is now facing 6 counts of vehicular manslaughter, in addition to the child endangerment and reckless driving charges. It is extremely unlikely, IMO, that prosecutors will agree to lower the charges in this very tragic, high profile case-- especially with all of the new damning evidence that is dripping out little by little every day.

In Tennessee, involuntary manslaughter is divided into three categories of vehicular homicide, reckless homicide, and criminally negligent homicide. These are below the intentional homicide crimes of first degree murder, second degree murder, and voluntary manslaughter (except for vehicular manslaughter which is punished at the same or higher felony level as voluntary manslaughter). Vehicular homicide is prohibited to address negligent driving, such as drunk driving or texting and driving.

In Tennessee, there are several different types of involuntary manslaughter that are illegal. In order of severity, shown by penalty class from high to low, they are:

Vehicular homicide is the reckless killing of another while driving a car, plane, boat, or other vehicle. The defendant's actions must have created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, been illegally drag racing, or been intoxicated from alcohol or drugs. Drinking and driving vehicular homicide is a Class B felony. Other vehicular homicide is a Class C felony.

The above involuntary manslaughter crimes are subject to the following sentencing ranges:

Class B Felony - 8-30 years in prison and a fine not more than $25,000
Class C Felony - 3-15 years in prison and a fine not more than $10,000
Class D Felony - 2-12 years in prison and a fine not more than $5,000
Class E Felony - 1-6 years in prison and a fine not more than $3,000.
Offenders convicted of vehicular homicide will lose their driving privileges for 3-10 years, depending on the circumstances.

http://statelaws.findlaw.com/tennessee-law/tennessee-involuntary-manslaughter-laws.html

Changes to Tennessee’s Vehicular Homicide Sentencing in 2015

The charge of vehicular homicide is a serious one. It is a class B felony in Tennessee with a potential sentence of 8- 20 years in prison. The Tennessee legislature has established new mandatory minimum sentences. Now those convicted of vehicular homicide while intoxicated would not be eligible for probation. Before the law went into effect, a criminal defendant was eligible for probation if the sentence was ten years or less.

This new law came about after an investigative report in the Memphis Commercial Appeal, revealed that Tennessee, which has some of this country’s toughest drunk driving laws is also among the most lenient for DUI-related vehicular homicide.

https://www.altshulerlaw.com/2015/09/21/changes-to-tennessees-vehicular-homicide-sentencing-in-2015/

So, using simple math, with 6 counts of Class C felonies, AW is facing a MINIMUM of 18 to 90 years in prison for the 6 charges of vehicular homicide, plus the sentencing for child endangerment and recklessness. (And there were 35 kids on the bus, so at least 35 charges of child endangerment.)

That is if he is sentenced for each death as a Class C felony-- the new 2015 sentencing guidelines sound like *any* reckless vehicular homicide (even without alcohol or drugs being involved) is sentences as a Class B-- 8 to 20 years per charge. So that would be 48 to 120 years in prison for 6 charges.

IMO, the prosecutor will not be agreeable to bust these charges down, but *might* be open to a guilty plea that ensures JW serves far more than the minimum-- say 60 years.

JW and whoever is his eventual court appointed attorney is will have to decide whether to roll the dice and go for a jury trial (which would be beyond foolish, IMO, given the evidence, grief, and public opinion), or beg for a plea deal.

Either way, Johnthony Walker will not be driving a car or a bus, or any vehicle, probably for the rest of his life. We can probably all agree that is a good thing.

And he is facing an all-but-certain "almost life" prison sentence, with decades before he would be eligible for parole-- probably until he is at least in his 60's. That's a good thing, IMO, too.

His own three year old son will grow up without JW driving him anywhere, or getting frustrated with him, endangering his safety, abusing, or neglecting him, which, IMO, is a somewhat more hopeful situation for that child.

IMO, the sooner JW can plead guilty and begin serving his nearly-life sentence, the better for the families to heal. He belongs in prison ASAP, IMO.

 

[JohnPaul]

I feel so badly for all these kids.....they were treated almost like hostages. You want a ride home from school? Okay, your only option is to hop on this bus and be at this driver/madman's mercy..

really? that was their only option to get home?...to get on the bus?

they didn't have the option to walk home, ride a bike, parents pick them up, friend pick them up?

when you consider all the possibilities of how children arrive at school or get home from school, riding on a school bus is one of the safest ways,

ever heard of a child being abducted on their way to school, or their way home from school while riding on a bus?

 

[Jax49]

Blaming the victims is beyond unseemly in this situation. MOO.

 

[killarney rose]

These kids were probably undisciplined, unruly and disruptive. The driver was most likely frustrated with their behavior. But that in no way, ever excuses this drivers behavior. He was the adult in this situation and no one forced him to drive that bus each day. He made the choice. He also made the choice to drive recklessly. A choice that cost six innocent children their lives. Not only is he to blame and deserves to be punished by serving a long time in prison, so does every superior of his that knew of the complaints against him and continued to let him drive that bus.

 

[DatelineFan]

really? that was their only option to get home?...to get on the bus?

they didn't have the option to walk home, ride a bike, parents pick them up, friend pick them up?

when you consider all the possibilities of how children arrive at school or get home from school, riding on a school bus is one of the safest ways,

ever heard of a child being abducted on their way to school, or their way home from school while riding on a bus?

I think she was saying that for the kids who typically rode the bus, they probably did see it as their only option. And it sounds like they have been riding in fear for a while. I really hope any other schools who have complaints they aren't actively addressing, are doing so, now! Everyone needs to look over their reports and make sure these kids are safe!

 

[CarmelEyesD]

It disgusts me that there were so many complaints and NOTHING was done!

 

[DatelineFan]

It disgusts me that there were so many complaints and NOTHING was done!

Me, too. Imagine what the parents are feeling. Ugh.

 

[CARIIS]

I just really do not buy all this guys. He came back clean all this insane driving all around some small city, a couple of complaints , dont really buy it - it is tragic yes, but I feel as if a lot of this is lawsuit stuff.

A yellow school bus, drag racing all over the city since April IMO is not credible only mo.

Apparently, the guy was a good father, worked two jobs to take care of his child

Has no criminal background--horrible yes

Teire children some of them thought he was going to fast. Two them. There are 40 kids on a bus that route.

Two folks filed something.

I think this was an accident, its physics, he went off the road on the right, overcorrected to the left, it flipped over, and the rest is what it is


If this dude was hauling all over town like this parent reaction, community reaction, school district reaction , contractor reaction would all be different since April.

The story that he yelled out everyone ready to die proved false.


He did not help horrified what he saw and heard. It was his fault, that's pretty traumatic in itself.

I think it was a horrible accident, people make mistakes all this he said in front of some boss that he does not care about kids, he has a child , that apparently he took care of.

He was off route- does not make him evil- might make him smart - faster.

There are no speeding tickets, and this yellow school bus for months tearing through this place for months just has no credibility IMO


It was a overreaction to going off to the right - he overcorrected (awareness) and physics overtook the rest of it

All this he said I hate you kids in front a boss defies logic - it is not what a father who is working two jobs to take care of his child would say.

He needed the job to take care of his child - would any of us say I hate my kids, in front of my boss, not translate to me being fired on the spot?? Its media nonsense imo.

The I will do it again disproven.

Is fatigue real , yes, were mistakes made yes, he is human, is this sad yes.

.
Only mo but to make this dude as a kid killer just does not fit

Single parent doing the best he can, does he go faster some days, he is tired, he has a kid to take care of, he has to work the next day at Amazon, stressed.

I totally get after impact sequence ended, I tried to remove some children, and it was too slippery (blood) to get any of them, pretty hard to see this - I shut down and go sit on a wall, That is hugely traumatic imo.

We shall see We are all angry, sad about this,



IMO only, I think this horrible- but to vilify him is way premature.


Only MO, he was tired, the bus went a little off to the right, he overcorrected, and the rest of the accident sequence occurred. .

At this point, I think he was tired and stressed

Humans make mistakes.....................................does not make them evil ; it makes them human

All of this is only mo