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Chattanooga School Bus Speeding Before Deadly Crash, Officials Say Chattanooga School Bus Speeding Before Deadly Crash, Officials Say
(about 9 hours later)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A school bus driver was speeding and swerving when he crashed on Monday, killing at least five students, the authorities said, in one of the deadliest school bus accidents in recent years.CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A school bus driver was speeding and swerving when he crashed on Monday, killing at least five students, the authorities said, in one of the deadliest school bus accidents in recent years.
In an arrest affidavit that the Hamilton County General Sessions Court released on Tuesday, the authorities said the driver, Johnthony K. Walker, 24, had been driving at “a high rate of speed, well above the posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour” at the time of the wreck. Mr. Walker has been charged with five counts of vehicular homicide.In an arrest affidavit that the Hamilton County General Sessions Court released on Tuesday, the authorities said the driver, Johnthony K. Walker, 24, had been driving at “a high rate of speed, well above the posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour” at the time of the wreck. Mr. Walker has been charged with five counts of vehicular homicide.
“Mr. Walker lost control of the bus and swerved off the roadway to the right, striking an elevated driveway and mailbox, swerved to the left and began to overturn, striking a telephone pole and a tree,” said the court filing. It said Mr. Walker was being charged because of “the reckless nature” of his driving.“Mr. Walker lost control of the bus and swerved off the roadway to the right, striking an elevated driveway and mailbox, swerved to the left and began to overturn, striking a telephone pole and a tree,” said the court filing. It said Mr. Walker was being charged because of “the reckless nature” of his driving.
Details of the crash emerged Tuesday as Woodmore Elementary School, whose student body is mostly impoverished, began a day of mourning. Thirty-seven students were on board the bus when it crashed, and Kirk Kelly, the interim school superintendent for Hamilton County, said at least five students had been killed.Details of the crash emerged Tuesday as Woodmore Elementary School, whose student body is mostly impoverished, began a day of mourning. Thirty-seven students were on board the bus when it crashed, and Kirk Kelly, the interim school superintendent for Hamilton County, said at least five students had been killed.
“We are heartbroken for all of our students and their families,” Dr. Kelly said at a news conference around dawn on Tuesday. “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.”“We are heartbroken for all of our students and their families,” Dr. Kelly said at a news conference around dawn on Tuesday. “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 three of the students who were killed had been in the fourth grade; the other children who died had been in kindergarten and first grade.Dr. Kelly said three of the students who were killed had been in the fourth grade; the other children who died had been in kindergarten and first grade.
“They will always be with us throughout our lives,” Dr. Kelly said. “This is something that we will never forget here as a community.”“They will always be with us throughout our lives,” Dr. Kelly said. “This is something that we will never forget here as a community.”
The superintendent also said 12 students were hospitalized on Tuesday, including six who were in intensive care.The superintendent also said 12 students were hospitalized on Tuesday, including six who were in intensive care.
Woodmore was open on Tuesday, the last day before the Thanksgiving break, and officials said counselors would be available to students and employees.Woodmore was open on Tuesday, the last day before the Thanksgiving break, and officials said counselors would be available to students and employees.
In addition to vehicular homicide, Mr. Walker, who was arrested on Monday night, was charged with reckless endangerment and reckless driving. Chattanooga’s police chief, Fred Fletcher, said a grand jury could bring additional charges. Dr. Kelly said that Mr. Walker worked for the school system’s bus service contractor.In addition to vehicular homicide, Mr. Walker, who was arrested on Monday night, was charged with reckless endangerment and reckless driving. Chattanooga’s police chief, Fred Fletcher, said a grand jury could bring additional charges. Dr. Kelly said that Mr. Walker worked for the school system’s bus service contractor.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.
Student fatalities aboard school buses are rare in the United States, where an estimated 25 million children use them daily. In a May report that examined crash data from 2005 to 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said 53 school-age children had died in accidents while they were riding in what the government classified as “school transportation vehicles.”Student fatalities aboard school buses are rare in the United States, where an estimated 25 million children use them daily. In a May report that examined crash data from 2005 to 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said 53 school-age children had died in accidents while they were riding in what the government classified as “school transportation vehicles.”
District employees worked overnight at Woodmore, a small school that was crowded with chaplains and reporters on Tuesday morning, to prepare for a day of mourning. One woman, schools officials said, went to a nearby store after the accident and brought every stuffed animal in stock, about 50. She told employees at Woodmore, where an orange crate of plush animals waited in the school office after nightfall on Monday, that she planned to return with an animal for every student by day’s end on Tuesday. District employees worked overnight at Woodmore, a small school that was crowded with chaplains and reporters on Tuesday morning, to prepare for a day of mourning. One woman, schools officials said, went to a nearby store after the accident and bought every stuffed animal in stock, about 50. She told employees at Woodmore, where an orange crate of plush animals waited in the school office after nightfall on Monday, that she planned to return with an animal for every student by day’s end on Tuesday.
The accident happened as Chattanooga, a city of about 177,000 near Tennessee’s border with Georgia, continued to grapple with the aftermath of a July 2015 terrorist attack, when a gunman opened fire at military facilities and killed five servicemen.The accident happened as Chattanooga, a city of about 177,000 near Tennessee’s border with Georgia, continued to grapple with the aftermath of a July 2015 terrorist attack, when a gunman opened fire at military facilities and killed five servicemen.
“Five is a cursed number in our city right now, and so we are again dealing with unimaginable loss,” Mayor Andy Berke said. “The most unnatural thing in the world is for a parent to mourn the loss of a child. There are no words that can bring comfort to a mother or a father.”“Five is a cursed number in our city right now, and so we are again dealing with unimaginable loss,” Mayor Andy Berke said. “The most unnatural thing in the world is for a parent to mourn the loss of a child. There are no words that can bring comfort to a mother or a father.”
Dr. Kelly sounded a similar note when he spoke on Tuesday about the process of notifying the families of students who were killed.Dr. Kelly sounded a similar note when he spoke on Tuesday about the process of notifying the families of students who were killed.
“It’s the toughest thing that you will ever do in your life,” he said. “There are no words you can say.”“It’s the toughest thing that you will ever do in your life,” he said. “There are no words you can say.”