2016 Chattanooga school bus crash

2016 Chattanooga school bus crash
NTSB investigators and the damaged bus
Map
Details
DateNovember 21, 2016
LocationChattanooga, Tennessee
Incident typeSchool bus crash
CauseExcessive speed.
Statistics
BusSchool bus
Passengers37
Deaths6 (1 later)
Injured32, incl. the bus driver (6 critical)

35°01′27″N 85°14′05″W / 35.02417°N 85.23472°W / 35.02417; -85.23472

On the afternoon of November 21, 2016, a school bus in Chattanooga, Tennessee rolled over onto its passenger side and became wrapped around a tree. There were six fatalities and 23 injuries.

Incident

The incident took place in the city's Brainerd neighborhood on Talley Road, which officials described as a "narrow, winding road." The bus, operated by Durham School Services,[1] was transporting children from Woodmore Elementary School.[2][3] Cameras mounted inside the bus captured the crash and the events before it.[4]

The driver, 24-year-old Johnthony K. Walker, lost control of the bus and caused it to strike a pole and then a tree and flip over.[5] According to court records, he lost control of the bus and swerved off of the roadway to the right, striking an elevated driveway and mailbox, before swerving to the left and overturning, striking a telephone pole and a tree.[6]

Authorities received a call about the crash just before 3:30 p.m. and first responders worked the scene for many hours to remove all of the victims from the bus.[1] The rescue effort took more than two hours, even though the last child was removed from the bus around 4:30 p.m.[7]

There were 37 children on the bus at the time of the crash.

Victims

Five of the children died at the scene of the crash. A sixth child died two days later.[1][8] Of the deceased, three were fourth-graders, one a third-grader, one a first-grader, and one a kindergartner,[9] none of whom were older than 10.[10]

Thirty-two children were injured in the crash. Of them, nine were treated directly for minor injuries. Of the nine children treated directly, three escaped for safety with minor injuries. Twenty-three children were hospitalized, six of whom were in critical condition. The driver of the bus was not seriously injured, but along with the children was also taken to the hospital, where he was arraigned.[2] Walker was the only victim to be charged in connection with the collision.

Identification of the victims was hampered by many of the children being too young to know their parents names or phone numbers, many referred to their parents with informal names such as "Mama", and did not know their names, spellings, or birth dates. The children also did not have any form of identification with them when they arrived at the hospital and all were wearing school uniforms when they were admitted. Photographs provided by parents in the waiting room, or taken of the child and shown to teachers were used to identify the students admitted into the hospital.[11]

Aftermath

Support was seen throughout the community and in other states. The NFL Tennessee Titans donated $25,000 to the Woodmore Fund, which benefits the families affected by the crash and wore "W.E.S" decals on their helmets in their game against the Chicago Bears in tribute to the students.[6] Lines were seen at Blood Assurance in Chattanooga, with staff fast tracking donors with blood type O negative and had extended their hours at three locations to better serve donors.[12] Donations of teddy bears, money and pizzas to the Children's Hospital at Erlanger were also seen.[6]

Governor Bill Haslam issued a statement that night offering his thoughts and prayers to the families involved as did David W. Purkey with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.[7]

Investigation

Officials believe that the speed of the bus might have been a contributing factor. On the day after the crash, a spokesman for the Chattanooga police department reported that drugs and alcohol were not factors. According to CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann, the mother of three children on the bus, including one who died, stated that her surviving children told her that Walker asked if they were "ready to die" immediately before the crash. Chattanooga police disputed the accuracy of this claim.[8][13]

Chattanooga Officers testified during the 2016 hearing that the school bus traveled between 48 and 52 mph, in a 30 mph zone. Students had previously complained about Walker's quality of driving and the private company that he was employed under, Durham School Services, had a history of traffic accidents in Tennessee.[14]

Driver

Johnthony K. Walker, aged 24, was identified as the driver of the school bus and had been issued his commercial driver's license (CDL) of April 2016. He was in a previous crash in September 2016 when he drove around a blind curve in a residential area and failed to yield to a right of way and sideswiped another vehicle.[6] There were no injuries reported.

Walker was arrested with minor injuries and later charged with six counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving.[2][15] On March 1, 2018, Walker was convicted of six counts of criminally negligent homicide, 11 counts of reckless aggravated assault, seven counts of assault, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and using his phone.[16] In addition a Hamilton County Criminal Court jury convicted Walker of lesser charges for the crash. He was sentenced to four years in prison, but went free on bail pending an appeal.

In June 2018, while free on bail pending an appeal of the bus crash charges, Walker was arrested for the statutory rape[17] of a 14-year-old girl at a family member's Nashville home where he was staying.[18] Officers stated during testimony that Walker admitted to having sex with the minor in the home's family room five times and that he believed it to be a consensual relationship but it was "repulsive" upon looking back.[19] He was indicted on eight counts of aggravated statutory rape and one count of sexual exploitation of the girl after a grand jury returned the indictments in March 2019.[20] In September 2020 Walker pleaded guilty to all counts and was sentenced to an additional six years and one month in prison. He was also required to register as a sex offender.[21]

A lawsuit was filed on November 23, 2016 on behalf of a deceased victim's parent and alleged that the driver was negligent and careless in his driving. It also targeted Durham School Services and alleged that it did not have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all school bus drivers were properly hired, trained, supervised, investigated, and disciplined.[22] On November 29, 2016 a second lawsuit was filed by an injured child's parent against Walker and Durham School Services, and alleged the child suffered serious "psychological and emotional injuries" and were seeking damages for medical expenses.[23]

On December 5, 2016 a third lawsuit was filed on behalf of an injured student who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury as a result of the crash. In addition to naming Walker and the Durham School Services, it also named National Express LLC which is the parent company of Durham School Services.[5] Two more lawsuits were filed on December 7, 2016 against all three groups on behalf of two injured students and allege that Walker was driving negligently and that the injuries the children sustained will be costly and potentially permanent.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c Sterling, Joe; Simon, Darran (November 21, 2016). "6 dead in Tennessee school bus crash". cnn.com. Cable News Network. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Hayden, Michael Edison; Gallagher, J.J.; Liddy, Tom; Cook, Jeffrey (November 22, 2016). "Kids Who Died in Chattanooga School Bus Crash Include 3 Fourth-Graders". abcnews.go.com. ABC News Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  3. ^ Nicholson, Ken. "Driver charged in deadly Talley Road school bus crash". wrcbtv.com. WRCB-TV. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  4. ^ "Driver seen on video with cellphone before deadly 2016 bus crash: Prosecutors". ABC News. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  5. ^ a b WTVC (December 5, 2016). "Third lawsuit filed in deadly Woodmore Elementary school bus crash". WTVC. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d Holly Yan, Natisha Lance and Ray Sanchez. "Chattanooga bus crash: 6 children dead; Titans to help victims' families". CNN. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "4 girls, boy killed in bus crash; driver charged". KGTV. November 22, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Associated Press (November 23, 2016). "Drugs, alcohol not involved in bus crash; 6th child dies". krqe.com. LIN Television. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  9. ^ Carlson, Adam (November 22, 2016). "Witnesses Describe 'Big Boom' and 'Horror Story' at Fatal School Bus Crash Scene: Reports". people.com. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Keating, Caitlin (November 23, 2016). "Pictured: The Children, No Older Than 10, Killed in Tennessee School Bus Crash". people.com. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  11. ^ Holly Yan and Martin Savidge. "Confusion in the ER: School bus crash victims too young to ID themselves". CNN. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  12. ^ Alex Leininger. "Chattanooga residents rush to give blood after bus crash". CNN. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  13. ^ (staff writer) (November 22, 2016). "Driver Asked Kids 'Are You Ready to Die' Before Crashing Bus in Chattanooga". detroit.cbslocal.com. CBS Local Media. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  14. ^ "Deadly Chattanooga school bus crash: What to know as trial gets underway". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  15. ^ (staff writer) (November 21, 2016). "Bus driver charged with vehicular manslaughter in Chattanooga bus crash". wbir.com. WBIR-TV. Retrieved November 22, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Bus driver found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in crash that killed 6 kids". wbir.com. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  17. ^ "Johnthony Walker Charged With Aggravated Rape". WTVF. June 15, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  18. ^ Gallegos, Anna Celia (June 14, 2018). "Johnthony K. Walker, driver in fatal Chattanooga bus crash, charged in rape in Nashville". Nashville Tennessean. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  19. ^ Tamburin, Adam (July 26, 2018). "Chattanooga bus driver Johnthony Walker wrote apology to statutory rape victim, cop says". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  20. ^ "Johnthony Walker indicted on eight counts of statutory rape". timesfreepress.com. March 11, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  21. ^ "Johnthony Walker To Serve 6 Years, 1 Month In Nashville Statutory Rape Case". chattanoogan.com. September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  22. ^ Ellis, Taylor (November 23, 2016). "Lawsuit filed against Durham Bus Company, driver involved in Monday's crash". WTVC. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  23. ^ Ellis, Taylor (November 29, 2016). "Second lawsuit filed on behalf of Woodmore families". WTVC. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  24. ^ WTVC (December 7, 2016). "Two more lawsuits filed on behalf of Woodmore Elementary bus crash victims". WTVC. Retrieved July 7, 2019.

Read other articles:

Bola voli pasir pada Pekan Olahraga Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan 2022

Bola voli pasir pada Pekan Olahraga Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan 2022Piktogram cabor bola voli pasirLokasiLapangan Voli Pasir Pantai Merpati (Bola voli pasir) di Jl. Yos Sudarso, Kelurahan Terang-Terang, Kecamatan Ujung BuluTanggal23–26 Oktober 2022Peserta32 atlet dari 11 kontingen kabupaten/kota← 20182026 → Bola voli pasir padaPekan Olahraga Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan 2022 Pasir tim putra (kualifikasi)  tim putri (kualifikasi) Bola voli pasir adalah salah satu...

 

Stephen Pearl Andrews

Cet article est une ébauche concernant l’anarchisme et un homme politique américain. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en l’améliorant (comment ?) selon les recommandations des projets correspondants. Stephen Pearl AndrewsStephen Pearl AndrewsBiographieNaissance 22 mars 1812TempletonDécès 21 mai 1886 (à 74 ans)New YorkNationalité américaineActivités Linguiste, anarchiste, philosophe, journaliste, militant, écrivainPère Elisha Andrews (d)Mère Wealthy Ann Lathrop...

 

الرهبانية الأنطونية

إن حيادية وصحة هذه المقالة محلُّ خلافٍ. ناقش هذه المسألة في صفحة نقاش المقالة، ولا تُزِل هذا القالب من غير توافقٍ على ذلك. (نقاش) (مايو 2016) الرهبانية الأنطونية هي جماعة كنسية مسيحية مارونية انطلقت بنظامها الحالي في بداية القرن الثامن عشر، بمبادرة من المطران جبرائيل البلوزان...

Lars Kagg

Swedish count and military officer Lars Kagg (1 May 1595 – 19 November 1661) was a Swedish count and military officer. He was a political ally of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, a member of the Privy Council of Sweden and Field Marshal during the Thirty Years' War.[1] Kagg was born at the Kiellstorp estate in Örslösa parish in Skaraborg, now Västra Götaland County. He was the son of Chamberlain Nils Mathisson Kagg. In 1609, at the age of fourteen, he was taken to the court of ...

 

Purim humor

Jewish humor during the celebration of Purim A Purim spiel by the Jewish Theatre, Warsaw, 2009 Purim humor, Purim jokes, and Purim pranks are elements of joyful celebration of the holiday of Purim.[1] Notable expressions of Purim humor of long tradition are Purim Torah read by Purim Rabbi and Purim spiel. Purim Torah and Purim spiel Main articles: Purim Torah and Purim spiel Purim Torah are humorous and satirical comments in the learned style of talmudic or halakhic comments in relati...

 

Flag and coat of arms of Johor

The flag and the coat of arms of Johor are state symbols of Johor, Malaysia. Like other states of Malaysia with Malay royalties, the state symbols of Johor are influenced by Johor's royalties, as well as Islam and the political and natural features of the state. Flag JohorUseCivil and state flagProportion1:2Adopted1871DesignNavy blue with a bright red field on the upper left canton, containing a white crescent and five-pointed star The flag, flown alongside the federal flag in front of the S...

1582 Cagayan battles

Combats of Spanish soldiers against Japanese samurai pirates in the Philippines 1582 Cagayan battlesDate1582LocationCagayan, Luzon, PhilippinesResult Spanish victoryBelligerents Spanish Empire Spanish Philippines WokouCommanders and leaders Juan Pablo de Carrión Pedro Lucas  † Tay Fusa[1]Strength 60 soldiers20 sailors[2]unknown number of native allies and ships1 galleon5 small vessels 1 light vessel[1] 1 junk18 sampans<100 Wako pirates[1]Casualt...

 

Ираклеониты

Ираклеониты — ученики гностика Ираклеона (II век). Упоминаются как особая секта Епифанием и Августином; при крещении и миропомазании они соблюдали обряд помазания елеем и при этом произносили воззвания на арамейском языке, которые должны были освободить душу от власт�...

 

Nick Lima

American soccer player (born 1994) Nick Lima Lima with the United States in 2019Personal informationFull name Nicholas Lima[1]Date of birth (1994-11-17) November 17, 1994 (age 29)Place of birth Castro Valley, California, United StatesHeight 5 ft 9 in (1.76 m)Position(s) DefenderTeam informationCurrent team New England RevolutionNumber 12Youth career2010–2011 San Jose EarthquakesCollege careerYears Team Apps (Gls)2013–2016 California Golden Bears 72 (6)Senior ca...

Ovipositor

Ovipositor de saltamontes (se pueden ver los dos cercos). Grillo común Gryllus assimilis A. Macho con alas levantadas para cantar B. Hembra con largo ovipositor C. Grillos inmaduros D. Hembra insertando su ovipositor en el suelo E. Hembra con su ovipositor parcialmente enterrado Ovipositor de Scambus calobatus El ovipositor, también llamado ovopositor u oviscapto, es un órgano usado por las hembras de muchos insectos para depositar huevos. Consiste de apéndices o gonopodios de los segment...

 

俄亥俄州

  「俄亥俄」重定向至此。关于其他用法，请见「俄亥俄 (消歧义)」。 俄亥俄州 美國联邦州State of Ohio 州旗州徽綽號：七葉果之州地图中高亮部分为俄亥俄州坐标：38°27'N－41°58'N, 80°32'W－84°49'W国家 美國加入聯邦1803年3月1日，在1953年8月7日追溯頒定（第17个加入联邦）首府哥倫布（及最大城市）政府 • 州长（英语：List of Governors of {{{Name}}}]]） •&...

 

中華民國國軍中的中共間諜列表

 本表是動態列表，或許永遠不會完結。歡迎您參考可靠來源來查漏補缺。 潛伏於中華民國國軍中的中共間諜列表收錄根據公開資料來源，曾潛伏於中華民國國軍、被中國共產黨聲稱或承認，或者遭中華民國政府調查審判，為中華人民共和國和中國人民解放軍進行間諜行為的人物。以下列表以現今可查知時間為準，正確的間諜活動或洩漏機密時間可能早於或晚於以下所歸�...

1966 European Athletics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay

1966 EuropeanAthletics ChampionshipsTrack events100 mmenwomen200 mmenwomen400 mmenwomen800 mmenwomen1500 mmen5000 mmen10,000 mmen80 m hurdleswomen110 m hurdlesmen400 m hurdlesmen3000 msteeplechasemen4×100 m relaymenwomen4×400 m relaymenRoad eventsMarathonmen20 km walkmen50 km walkmenField eventsHigh jumpmenwomenPole vaultmenLong jumpmenwomenTriple jumpmenShot putmenwomenDiscus throwmenwomenHammer throwmenJavelin throwmenwomenCombined eventsPentathlonwomenDecathlonmenvte The women's 4 x 100...

 

80,000 Hours

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: 80,000 Hours – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Non-profit organisation that conducts research on which jobs have most positive social impact 80,000 HoursFoundedOctober 2011; 12 years ago (2011-10)[1]Found...

 

Urban Council

Municipal council in Hong Kong For other uses, see Urban Council (disambiguation). Urban Council 市政局Emblem of Urban CouncilTypeTypeMunicipal council HistoryEstablished18 April 1883Disbanded31 December 1999ElectionsVoting systemFirst-past-the-postLast election7 March 1995Meeting placeCity Hall Lower Block, Edinburgh Place Urban CouncilChinese市政局TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinShìzhèng JúYue: CantoneseYale Romanizationsíh jing guhkJyutpingsi5 zing3 guk6 The armorial b...

301e régiment d'artillerie

Pour les articles homonymes, voir 301e régiment. 301e régiment d'artillerie Insigne du 301e groupement d'artillerie Pays France Branche Artillerie Rôle Appui feu Garnison La Fère (1924-1935)Rastatt (1959)Villingen (1960-1970) Ancienne dénomination 301e régiment d'artillerie lourde301e régiment d'artillerie porté301e régiment d'artillerie à tracteurs tous terrains Inscriptionssur l’emblème Verdun 1916La Somme 1916Soissonnais 1918 Guerres Première Guerre mondialeSeconde...

 

Hugh Duffy

American baseball player and manager (1866–1954) For the rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, and 1960s, see Hugh Duffy (rugby). Baseball player Hugh DuffyOutfielder / ManagerBorn: (1866-11-26)November 26, 1866Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.Died: October 19, 1954(1954-10-19) (aged 87)Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Batted: RightThrew: RightMLB debutJune 23, 1888, for the Chicago White StockingsLast MLB appearanceApril 13, 1906, for the ...

 

Qiong Prefecture (Sichuan)

Historical administrative division in Sichuan, China Not to be confused with Qiong Prefecture (Hainan). Qiong Prefecture (邛州)Linqiong Commandery (臨邛郡)Population • 740s or 750s190,327[1] • 1100s193,032[2] History • Created6th century (Liang dynasty) • Abolished1913 (Republic of China) • Succeeded byQionglai County (邛崍縣) Contained within • CircuitTang dynasty:Jiannan CircuitSong dyn...

Emma Fürstenhoff

Swedish artist (1802–1871) This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Emma FürstenhoffEmma Fürstenhoff Idun1890, nr 32BornEmilia Emma Lindegren1802 (1802)Stockholm, SwedenDied1871 (aged 68–69)Paris, FranceNationalitySwedishKnown forWax Flow...

 

Strategos

Greek military leader For the genus of beetles, see Strategus (genus). For the board game, see Stratego. For the wargame, see Strategos (game). Bust of Pericles, statesman and general during the Golden Age of Athens; Hadrianic Roman copy of a Greek sculpture of c. 400 BC Strategos, plural strategoi, Latinized strategus, (Greek: στρατηγός, pl. στρατηγοί; Doric Greek: στραταγός, stratagos; meaning army leader) is used in Greek to mean military general. In the Hellenis...