When one reckless bus driver was driving a school bus in Chattanooga on Monday afternoon, it had devastating consequences.
Twenty-four-year-old bus driver, Johnthony Walker has been put in jail and charged with vehicular homicide after the deadly crash, and authorities say he was speeding recklessly and swerved during his Monday afternoon route.
Three of the students on the bus who died were in the fourth grade, and the other two were in kindergarten and first grade, according to Kirk Kelly, the interim school’s superintendent in Hamilton County. “Yesterday was the worst day that we have had for Woodmore and for Hamilton County Schools that I can recall in my life as an educator and as a parent and as a member of this community,” Dr. Kelly said.
Police say Walker “lost control of the bus” and swerved off the narrow roadway, and landed on its side, hit a mailbox, a driveway, a tree and a telephone pole. As if the incident isn’t devastating enough, it’s the news of what Walker said to the children immediately before the crash that’s putting chills up everyone’s spine.
Jasmine Mateen, a mother who had three children on the bus- one of whom was killed in the accident, told CBS Radio: “My daughter said, right before the bus flipped, that he was speeding around the curb, and asked them, ‘are y’all ready to die?’ He needs to suffer the way those kids suffered. I want justice for my kids, for everybody else’s kids that were on that bus. Just last week, he told the kids to ‘shut the f—- up,’ he had a hangover.”
Following all of the accusations, Walker’s mother, Gwenevere Cook has decided to speak out and told CNN that her son called her from the scene. “He said, ‘Mama, I love you. I have been in a drastic accident.’ He texted me minutes later saying the kids are dead. He was trying to get (the children) off the bus — all the bodies were limp. There was blood everywhere.”
Cook also asks the public for compassion on behalf of her son, saying, “He is a marvelous son. For two years he worked two jobs. He’s never been in trouble before. He is a respected young man, grew up in Chattanooga and is liked by everyone. My heart of love is going out for all that was in harm’s way of God’s will. Sending out mine and our condolences to every family that God touched yesterday in this horrible accident. And I am asking for compassion also for my son.”
According to the arrest affidavit: “Based on witness statements and physical evidence, the defendant was driving the school bus at a high rate of speed, well above the posted speed limit of 30 mph.”
Our hearts are with the families affected by this terrible tragedy.
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[Featured Image Credit: Chattanooga Fire Department]
Chattanooga Bus Driver Said Chilling Words To Kids Before Crash is an article from: LifeDaily