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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 22, 2016 14:06:40 GMT
Does anyone else think 24 seems kind of young to be driving a bus full of school children? I can't explain why, but I was kind of surprised the driver was so young. Maybe because all we ever had were much older drivers when I was in school and that's sort of what I envision when I think of a school bus driver. One of my DS had a very young coach. After the driver being late a few times he became certified to drive the bus taking them from school to venue. He was only 24. I think it happens, young teachers can use the extra income too. My highschool would hire senior students in a pinch. They were usually kids with experience driving big farm equipment, and they got the correct license. It seemed fine at the time, but I look back shocked an 18 year old had that responsibility.
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Deleted
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May 10, 2024 10:10:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2016 14:09:29 GMT
I think many places are always in need of drivers - I know the city nearest me is always advertising for them - so unfortunately there may not be many options. Especially since the wages are low (in spite our our mantra that "children are precious", we sure don't act like it when it comes to paying their carers). and the schedules are hard because there's a big gap in the middle of the day. Many older adult (unless they're retired) just can't make it on that kind of pay. Hoping that some good can come out of this tragedy so that we can be spared more like it.
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Deleted
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May 10, 2024 10:10:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2016 14:13:29 GMT
Yes, just saw that too, and the driver was just 24. They also interviewed a little boy that was on the bus. He said that the driver was driving very fast and that they hit a garbage bag and a mailbox first before hitting the tree. I have been praying all night since I got the breaking news last night. I can't imagine the parents' grief. I ache for them! This just breaks my heart! Those poor children! I was hoping it was a vehicle malfunction. Not that it makes a difference. But since they charged the driver, it must be driver error. I've seen the photos. I can't understand how the bus ended up that way! Even if there were seat belts, I'm guessing the children in the area of where the tree is were the ones that perished. Just so unbelievably sad. We put our trust in the drivers to get our children to school and back safely. Sometimes accidents are unavoidable. But sounds like this one certainly was avoidable. Prayers to all the children and their families.
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Post by melanell on Nov 22, 2016 14:16:02 GMT
I am also surprised by the age of the driver. I'm in my 40s and all of the drivers I have ever seen on any of our district buses appear to be older than I am.
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Post by Patter on Nov 22, 2016 14:22:53 GMT
Does anyone else think 24 seems kind of young to be driving a bus full of school children? I can't explain why, but I was kind of surprised the driver was so young. Maybe because all we ever had were much older drivers when I was in school and that's sort of what I envision when I think of a school bus driver. Yes, 24 is too young IMO. I know my cousin drove a school bus when she was 19 or 20 if I remember correctly. If you can't rent a car until you are a certain age, then how can you be responsible for a bus load of children. I have just wondered and wondered about this. Makes me even more sad!
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Deleted
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May 10, 2024 10:10:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2016 14:29:08 GMT
Have they ruled out that the bus malfunctioned?
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Post by Patter on Nov 22, 2016 14:36:34 GMT
Have they ruled out that the bus malfunctioned? From what the little boy said and what investigators have said so far, it seems he was just going too fast but they are going to get the black box to make sure nothing else caused the high speed.
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
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Jun 27, 2014 18:02:10 GMT
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Post by georgiapea on Nov 22, 2016 16:31:13 GMT
Charlotte, NC hired high school students to drive the school busses in the late 80's. There were fender benders every day with those kids at the helm. Anyone speeding with a school buss is not qualified to be driving one.
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flute4peace
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Jul 3, 2014 14:38:35 GMT
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Post by flute4peace on Nov 22, 2016 17:18:58 GMT
I think many places are always in need of drivers - I know the city nearest me is always advertising for them - so unfortunately there may not be many options. Especially since the wages are low (in spite our our mantra that "children are precious", we sure don't act like it when it comes to paying their carers). and the schedules are hard because there's a big gap in the middle of the day. Many older adult (unless they're retired) just can't make it on that kind of pay. Hoping that some good can come out of this tragedy so that we can be spared more like it. The majority of our drivers are farmers. It's a good fit. They have the necessary experience & licence plus the schedule works well for them. We've got one guy, though, who's so old he can barely walk. I would drive my kid separately if we were on his route.
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oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
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Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Nov 22, 2016 17:26:16 GMT
I saw one picture of a mother holding her two children leading away from the accident and you can see how traumatized they are, it just broke me. I'm so heartbroken over this, the poor children, their grieving families.No one on involved will ever be the same. Praying for the community and these grieving families. This is horrific.
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BarbaraUK
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Surrounded by my yarn stash on the NE coast of England...............!! Refupea 1702
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Jun 27, 2014 12:47:11 GMT
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Post by BarbaraUK on Nov 22, 2016 18:39:34 GMT
This is a sad, awful thing to happen, my thoughts are with the families.
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flute4peace
Drama Llama
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Jul 3, 2014 14:38:35 GMT
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Post by flute4peace on Nov 22, 2016 18:45:31 GMT
The news is now saying that it was intentional.
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grammanisi
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Jun 26, 2014 1:37:37 GMT
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Post by grammanisi on Nov 22, 2016 19:03:27 GMT
The news is now saying that it was intentional. Did they say intentional in what way? Did he cause the accident on purpose?
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used2scrap
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Jan 29, 2016 3:02:55 GMT
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Post by used2scrap on Nov 22, 2016 19:06:48 GMT
The news is now saying that it was intentional. Did they say intentional in what way? Did he cause the accident on purpose? Not sure it's been verified, but there is a parent saying he asked the children if they were ready to die before they crashed.
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Post by papersilly on Nov 22, 2016 19:16:52 GMT
I think 24 is too young to be in charge of so many young lives. I am so devastated for those families! i can't imagine that level of grief. the children were so young.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,126
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Nov 22, 2016 19:30:22 GMT
One of my DS had a very young coach. After the driver being late a few times he became certified to drive the bus taking them from school to venue. He was only 24. I think it happens, young teachers can use the extra income too. My highschool would hire senior students in a pinch. They were usually kids with experience driving big farm equipment, and they got the correct license. It seemed fine at the time, but I look back shocked an 18 year old had that responsibility. It all depends on the person and the experience. All three of my kids were driving semis full of grain down the road at 18. They were hauling wagons with as much grain with tractors at 14 or 15. I would ride a bus or put my loved ones on one with one of my kids driving long before I would want them riding with a 78 year old driver. But with this particular driver, it sounds like something else entirely is going on. So tragic. It is beyond understanding why anyone would do something like this. It hurts to even think about it....
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tincin
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Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Nov 22, 2016 19:34:16 GMT
Does anyone else think 24 seems kind of young to be driving a bus full of school children? I can't explain why, but I was kind of surprised the driver was so young. Maybe because all we ever had were much older drivers when I was in school and that's sort of what I envision when I think of a school bus driver. When you don't pay people a living wage you seldom attract the cream of the crop.
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Post by Patter on Nov 22, 2016 20:17:35 GMT
Did they say intentional in what way? Did he cause the accident on purpose? Not sure it's been verified, but there is a parent saying he asked the children if they were ready to die before they crashed. Oh my, I sure pray that is not true.
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Post by pierkiss on Nov 22, 2016 21:11:35 GMT
Did they say intentional in what way? Did he cause the accident on purpose? Not sure it's been verified, but there is a parent saying he asked the children if they were ready to die before they crashed. Omg. I sincerely hope this is not true. I can't even imagine living through this tragedy as an accident, let alone if it were done in purpose.
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Dani-Mani
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Jun 28, 2014 17:36:35 GMT
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Post by Dani-Mani on Nov 22, 2016 22:14:08 GMT
The news is now saying that it was intentional. Did they say intentional in what way? Did he cause the accident on purpose? Why does this show a post from 2014??
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 10, 2024 10:10:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2016 22:14:26 GMT
Not sure it's been verified, but there is a parent saying he asked the children if they were ready to die before they crashed. Omg. I sincerely hope this is not true. I can't even imagine living through this tragedy as an accident, let alone if it were done in purpose. I dearly hope this is not true.
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breetheflea
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Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Nov 22, 2016 22:18:29 GMT
Did they say intentional in what way? Did he cause the accident on purpose? Why does this show a post from 2014?? Isn't that the date this site started? Weird...
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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 22, 2016 22:19:24 GMT
Did they say intentional in what way? Did he cause the accident on purpose? Not sure it's been verified, but there is a parent saying he asked the children if they were ready to die before they crashed. I'm not sure what's going on, grammanisiI didn't write that. It appears Flute did, in post above yours. Kind of freaked me out for a minute. I thought I'd faded or something.
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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 22, 2016 22:22:08 GMT
One of my DS had a very young coach. After the driver being late a few times he became certified to drive the bus taking them from school to venue. He was only 24. I think it happens, young teachers can use the extra income too. My highschool would hire senior students in a pinch. They were usually kids with experience driving big farm equipment, and they got the correct license. It seemed fine at the time, but I look back shocked an 18 year old had that responsibility. It all depends on the person and the experience. All three of my kids were driving semis full of grain down the road at 18. They were hauling wagons with as much grain with tractors at 14 or 15. I would ride a bus or put my loved ones on one with one of my kids driving long before I would want them riding with a 78 year old driver. But with this particular driver, it sounds like something else entirely is going on. So tragic. It is beyond understanding why anyone would do something like this. It hurts to even think about it.... I hear you! My scary bus incident was with an old driver. OLD, another what were they thinking moment.
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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 22, 2016 22:22:36 GMT
Why does this show a post from 2014?? Isn't that the date this site started? Weird... I can't see dates, that makes it even stranger.
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flute4peace
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,757
Jul 3, 2014 14:38:35 GMT
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Post by flute4peace on Nov 22, 2016 23:22:23 GMT
Not sure it's been verified, but there is a parent saying he asked the children if they were ready to die before they crashed. I'm not sure what's going on, grammanisi I didn't write that. It appears Flute did, in post above yours. Kind of freaked me out for a minute. I thought I'd faded or something. How bizarre!
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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 23, 2016 2:20:52 GMT
I'm not sure what's going on, grammanisi I didn't write that. It appears Flute did, in post above yours. Kind of freaked me out for a minute. I thought I'd faded or something. How bizarre!
Please tell me you see it too
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 10, 2024 10:10:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2016 4:17:47 GMT
The mother of one of the victims told NBC she had complained to the school, the board of education and the bus company about this particular driver: Link.There should be some documentation on this, so I hope the persons who ignored the problem are held accountable. No excuse for endangering those children.
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flute4peace
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,757
Jul 3, 2014 14:38:35 GMT
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Post by flute4peace on Nov 23, 2016 4:22:47 GMT
Please tell me you see it too Yes I do. Hopefully it's a short-term problem.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,126
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Nov 23, 2016 14:11:38 GMT
The mother of one of the victims told NBC she had complained to the school, the board of education and the bus company about this particular driver: Link. The driver, identified by authorities as 24-year-old Johnthony Walker, taunted students from Woodmore Elementary School by "slamming on brakes on purpose, making all the kids hit their heads," Jasmine Mateen told local NBC affiliate WRCB. She said she reminded school officials that she'd complained about Walker when they called her Tuesday. "I've been calling y'all since August," Mateen said she told them. "I said, 'Now y'all doing what y'all supposed to been doing now that it's too late ... Y'all doing what y'all supposed to be doing, but my baby laying in a cold freezer.'" There should be some documentation on this, so I hope the persons who ignored the problem are held accountable. No excuse for endangering those children. Oh man. If this is true - there better be some real consequences for those who ignored the complaints! Our school district is small, so no bus companies. All school owned buses with local drivers. They actually are paid quite well. Most are retired, so are older. There were a few that need to stop driving a few years before they finally did. There was one incident where a driver passed out - but he wasn't even that old. It was a health condition. Not many older kids ride the bus, since you can drive to school here at 14 - but there was a middle school kid on the bus who saw the driver pass out and hopped in the seat and got the bus stopped. I do see a lot of complaints from the more urban areas in Iowa about bus companies and the terrible drivers they hire.
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