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

[Elley Mae]

Although I agree, we can go too far, I had to agree to submit to random testing, provide my own vehicle, and was required to carry a specified amount of insurance coverage (quite costly), for the organization that I worked for and I never hauled children. Sometimes a co-worker, but even that was quite rare. After they implement the drug screens they usually find that most folks are clean, and it's a cost they don't want to keep paying, so they stop the testing, unless they get suspicious of someone having a problem then they'll randomly test that person and a couple others.

True about testing. Some before, some after an accident( to not have to pay medical) and some because their contract with the customer requires it. The drug testing has been relaxed, ( due to cost ) at lots of places/ levels.

 

[JeannaT]

A 6th child has died.

http://www.cnn.com/

 

[skibaboo]

Oh no

 

[watcher9]

A 6th child has died.

http://www.cnn.com/

That's so sad to hear another child has passed. Prayers to all the families.

 

[watcher9]

A 6th child has died.

http://www.cnn.com/

After clicking on the article at your link, I read further down on the page that the bus was not even on the designated route when it crashed. What was he doing? Was it some kind of short cut?

Also, it said that the NSTB was having problems downloading the video and motor data because of the damage.

 

[CarmelEyesD]

http://wbay.com/2016/11/23/6th-chil...t-on-designated-route/?cid=facebook_WBAY_TV-2

So far in the investigation, NTSB says they have begun downloading video footage from inside the bus, but they had trouble due to the vehicle’s damage. An expert is being brought in to help finish downloading the data.

A mechanical inspection of the bus is also underway and almost complete. Investigators are looking at every aspect of the vehicle’s mechanics to see if any there were any problems that could have caused the crash.

Chairman Hart reiterated the police department and noted the driver’s toxicology test, which tested for alcohol and common drugs, came back clean and negative. However, samples are also being sent to an NTSB lab to test for a longer, wider range of drugs.

Hart also said that road was not a designated road for the school bus’s route. The actual route is not known at this time, and it’s unclear why the driver went that way.

 

[Inthedetails]

I have the gap in the blue line yes, but I dropped the little man in the middle of that gap and it worked anyway. I think I might know what it is. Very slightly to the north of 317 you lose a little as it jumps to older shots of streetview. I think it loses a little footage but it's marked on the map with the gap in the blue line in slightly the wrong location, also it's not as big of a distance that is missing. Cut that gap in half and move it slightly north and it would be more accurate.

You're good it's not anything dubious or anything only you is having an issue with.

Does the "gap" disappear if you switch to a different date? There is usually more than one date you can chose from. I often pick older dates that are in winter and leaves are off trees.

 

[KaaBoom]

It allows me to land at the point of the crash. It doesn't show any images past the point of the crash, until the next block. That is not unusual for Google Maps. Like most Google services, it is buggy and incomplete.

OK for those wondering about the missing Streetview images, I think I have found the explanation in Bing Maps. Just past the crash location is a permanent My Speed sign. If I was going to guess I would bet that the Google Streetview car was speeding, just like the bus was, and the speed showed up on the sign. Google doesn't like images of their cars breaking the law, so they probably removed that entire strip. Though I do have to wonder, why they didn't just blur it out. But maybe they don't want to make it that obvious.

 

[LietKynes]

A 6th child has died.

http://www.cnn.com/

RSBM

So sorry to hear that.
My god this is horrible.

 

[KaaBoom]

Image Source

Is anyone else having difficulty understanding how the bus came to rest in that position? It's obvious that the bus didn't just run off the road and flip over. Because normally the bus would tip away from the road in that situation.

So the only possibilities that I can think of is, 1. That the bus ran off the road, and was traveling through the yards, and finally rolled over in the direction of the road hitting the tree, or 2. The bus hit that small hill before the crash site and went airborne, came back down on the road, bounced, tipped on it's side, and slid into the tree with the roof wrapping around the tree. But either explanation, it's strange that it didn't cause more damage to or hit other objects, trees, poles, etc. There are some reports that it hit a mailbox, but that is not obvious in the pictures.

I'm leaning toward explanation #1, because I don't see any skid marks on the road, to indicate that it slid on the road surface.

 

[CarmelEyesD]

UPDATE: Channel 3 has confirmed, Durham School Services will pay for the funerals of the children that were killed in a school bus crash.

A company spokesperson confirmed the information.

http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/3378319...chools-durham-ceo-respond-to-tragic-bus-crash

 

[fedfan4life]

So, whenever profit is the primary motivating factor, then lives will be at risk. It's just the truth of it.

Everything possible will be privatized over the next 4 years, so get ready for this type of thing to be a regular occurrence.

 

[Jax49]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-chattanooga-school-bus-crash-20161123-story.html

Police disputed one woman's claim that the driver asked the children if they were "prepared to die" just before the wreck. Jasmine Mateen, whose 6-year-old daughter was among the dead, said one of her two surviving children who were on the bus told her about the driver's remarks.Garrett, however, said at a Wednesday press conference: "I want to be very clear on this. No witness we have spoken with has that information or provided it directly to our investigators."
He added that investigators have not yet interviewed the children on the bus and asked anyone with additional information to bring it to police.

He said Walker, who has no criminal record in the state, had taken on a second job at an Amazon Fulfillment Center, and part of the agency's investigation will look at whether fatigue played a role in the wreck.

 

[cuffem]

So, whenever profit is the primary motivating factor, then lives will be at risk. It's just the truth of it.

Everything possible will be privatized over the next 4 years, so get ready for this type of thing to be a regular occurrence.

Do you have a link for that or where the info came from?thanks!

 

[rsd1200]

Is anyone else having difficulty understanding how the bus came to rest in that position? It's obvious that the bus didn't just run off the road and flip over. Because normally the bus would tip away from the road in that situation.

So the only possibilities that I can think of is, 1. That the bus ran off the road, and was traveling through the yards, and finally rolled over in the direction of the road hitting the tree, or 2. The bus hit that small hill before the crash site and went airborne, came back down on the road, bounced, tipped on it's side, and slid into the tree with the roof wrapping around the tree. But either explanation, it's strange that it didn't cause more damage to or hit other objects, trees, poles, etc. There are some reports that it hit a mailbox, but that is not obvious in the pictures.

I'm leaning toward explanation #1, because I don't see any skid marks on the road, to indicate that it slid on the road surface.

He got that 2nd job at Amazon. I've been in a vehicle when someone went to sleep. They just, went to sleep. Very scary. There's the lack of the drugs in his system, the 2nd job, the lack of skid marks, the speed he was going for that route, a road he shouldn't have been on (Extremely sleepy drivers don't have the ability to pay attention. It's as bad as riding w/a drunk driver.). I think he snapped awake and maybe even yelled something like, Hang on ya'll we're all gonna die! He may have cut the bus hard to the right to keep from going straight into that home and it flipped. I'm holding judgement out on him for now. Like I said, I have been in the vehicle w/a sleep deprived driver and when I finally got out, I felt like kissing the ground.

 

[Jax49]

It occurs to me the job at Amazon was probably part time (four hour shifts, five days a week), instead of full time. Does anyone know if my assumption is correct?

 

[skibaboo]

Is anyone else having difficulty understanding how the bus came to rest in that position? It's obvious that the bus didn't just run off the road and flip over. Because normally the bus would tip away from the road in that situation.

So the only possibilities that I can think of is, 1. That the bus ran off the road, and was traveling through the yards, and finally rolled over in the direction of the road hitting the tree, or 2. The bus hit that small hill before the crash site and went airborne, came back down on the road, bounced, tipped on it's side, and slid into the tree with the roof wrapping around the tree. But either explanation, it's strange that it didn't cause more damage to or hit other objects, trees, poles, etc. There are some reports that it hit a mailbox, but that is not obvious in the pictures.

I'm leaning toward explanation #1, because I don't see any skid marks on the road, to indicate that it slid on the road surface.

Yes. There is a telegraph pole just before the tree, impossible for the bus to miss it. Also the road is a slight incline, the bus must really have been going some speed. It must have hit something and spun round, I'm wondering if he saw the pole last minute tried to swerve to miss it clipped it and spun into the tree?

 

[CARIIS]

Boy - if some of these allegations are true it is really a revolting story.

Why did they move the bus before NTSB got there? Wouldn't that have been important for them to see?

http://www.eastidahonews.com/2016/11/chattanooga-crash-investigators-search-answers/

I have never heard of that happening before - that is real no no.

Durham School Services Salaries
[/TABLE]

Shoot it did not work --$14.39/hr-- full time $35,227


https://www.google.com/search?q=Dur...rome..69i57.5937j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
[FONT=&amp]
[/FONT][FONT=&amp]Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hadn't conducted a "full comprehensive review" of the company since 2007. [/FONT][FONT=&amp]

[/FONT][FONT=&amp]Durham drivers had [/FONT][FONT=&amp]wrecked[/FONT][FONT=&amp] 11 buses in less than two months.

[/FONT][FONT=&amp]Informative wording?

from earlier link:
[/FONT]http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bus-company-at-center-of-wreck-had-142-injury-crashes-3-deaths-in-2-years/ar-AAkAONs?li=BBnbcA1[FONT=&amp]

[/FONT]

Speeding before...Infuriating, to say the least...:shakehead:

Such precious, valuable cargo...

My thoughts tonight to the families who lost their children, and to the little ones still recovering from their injuries.

No matter who who who's who, the kids will never be brought back. Hopefully some measures can be put in place so something like this doesn't happen again.

I'm still wondering about the validity of the comment re: "are yall ready to die".

Me too Marg--I just saw mom for the first time as well (Mateen) and lets see if it is true she made all those complaints. Just a feeling , but kinda feel there may be some embellishment going on with mom. moo

Probably to reopen the street. I'm sure the police took enough pictures of the bus and documented scene. I think the NTSB will be more interested in examining the maintenance records for the bus and the qualifications of the driver. I'm sure the wreckage has also been impounded, and they have the bus's black box to examine. That should be adequate for their investigation.

Hi Kaaboom

I trust behind the scenes NTSB was not happy at all that it had moved. MUCH changes when moved . They are so trained and know so much different info to get than cops working a highway accident.

I would bet in the final report there will be a concern outlined- most know do not touch a thing until NTSB authorizes removal -they are the boss!!

In any disaster, aviation, rail,marine, highway - when NTSB is called to site they run the show !

moo

As I am catching up it is becoming more angering - a poster posted that people in the neighborhood had apparently seen him speeding often, If I saw a yellow school bus doing that I would report it. Or ask Le to do a speed trap for a couple of days,

From the cooperate office:

Jul 27, 2016
DURHAM SCHOOL SERVICES RECEIVES PERFECT SCORE ON FLEET INSPECTION BY STATE TRANSPORT POLICE
Warrenville, Ill - Durham School Services, a leading provider in student transportation, received a perfect score of 100 percent on their recent fleet inspection by the State Transport Police—South Carolina Department of Public Safety. “We set our standards high in regards to safety which entails continuous improvement. Receiving a perfect score on our recent fleet inspection validates our strenuous dedication to the maintenance of our fleet,”

The tested 140 of them - my sense here is that they chose the ones to be looked at!

http://www.durhamschoolservices.com/News/Pages/default.aspx?item=57

More from the "Ivory Tower"

• Thorough employee background screening
• Annual driver evaluations and records checks
• Continuous school bus safety training
• Daily bus safety inspections
• Child check policy
• GPS technology
• Preventive bus maintenance programs

Partnering with a transportation provider can save school districts an average of 10%–30% in transportation costs

http://www.durhamschoolservices.com/the-durham-difference/Pages/durham-difference.aspx/faqs/

Here is their brochure:

OH my goodness, they inspire confidence, give me a break! Humm ............

http://www.durhamschoolservices.com/Case Studies PDFs/FNL DSS Flip Brochure.pdf

This was kinda cool:

http://www.durhamschoolservices.com/pages/durhambustracker.aspx

 

[Elley Mae]

Yes. There is a telegraph pole just before the tree, impossible for the bus to miss it. Also the road is a slight incline, the bus must really have been going some speed. It must have hit something and spun round, I'm wondering if he saw the pole last minute tried to swerve to miss it clipped it and spun into the tree?

I read an article, iirc The Tennessean, the bus struck a utility pole before the tree, and it was traveling 30 mph over the speed limit. Iirc the posted speed is 30 mph. Jmo

 

[CARIIS]

I would really like to know more about the complaints against the driver. The one grieving mom tells a story of writing a letter to the principal and the principal reading the letter to the bus driver, in the presence of some students, and the bus driver said "I'll do it again". I'll do what again, exactly? Was it a safety issue, or was it a perceived slight of the children, or not waiting at a bus stop for kids who are probably on the way, etc? Don't tell me this principal couldn't call the Durham bus company (I'm sure they're in direct contact all the time, for late buses, items left on buses, etc.) and say this bus driver isn't driving kids from my school anymore. Hindsight. Sad.

if this mother really called several times, and wrote a letter to the principal that the principal acknowledges receiving and reading, about SAFETY concerns, this is partially on the principal, IMHO. I'm really curious specifically what the concerns were - and a too rowdy bus, or failure to control kids on the bus, or other common parent complaints wouldn't rise to the level of consistent unsafe driving.

I do have some degree of empathy for the mother of the bus driver, and always hurt for people in her position. Usually, though, they say things like "we are heartbroken and our lives will never be the same". Not "don't judge him" and "this is God's will". It's hard to imagine saying those things. I can imagine feeling them - not saying them.

Seems kinda far fetched no?
moo

From what I learning I think we might need to be prepared (video) to be rather upsetting - if this dude is cruising around at 60 on a two lane road with a bunch of children in the background.

But then I think if his speeding was that prevalent i it would seem he would have some speeding tickets on the bus.