posted
Anyone who wants to, please take the time to say a prayer. I don't know if you've seen it on the news yet, but a terrible thing happened today, not three hours ago. A Haven bus (from my school, the high school) was crossing K-96 today after school to take at least four students to Yoder. The bus pulled right in front of the semi and was hit directly in the side. The bus was badly damaged. At tennis practice, before we knew about it (we cancelled practice at about 4:30 when we found out) two helicopters flew over. They were two LifeTouch helicopters. I don't know how many they carried. Please pray for the drivers and passengers of both the bus and the semi. They now say the high schoolers had gotten off and the kids that were left (5-10) were kindergarteners to 7th grade. Please pass this one to anyone you can. Thank you.
posted
Elizabeth -- sorry, but your post was to the wrong story -- that accident happened LAST week involving the Buhler team. (We've had three major school bus accidents here in Kansas in the last month!)
However, it turns out that the bus was the one from the Yoder Charter School (which is one of four K-8 schools that feeds INTO Haven High School -- part of our school district, but not the high school as originally reported). Yoder Charter has primarily Amish and Mennonite students.
We know more this morning -- the kids were in the 8 to 13 age range, and this was near the end of their route. The driver didn't see the semi and pulled out in front of it -- it V-d the bus in the side and spun it around 180 degrees, but did NOT turn it over or roll it (a good thing).
Three helicopters took four students to trauma centers, two ambulances took the other two (one was the bus driver) to a local hospital (those two have since been treated and released). Teachers went to the parents' homes and drove them to the hospital (because Amish don't drive). The two people in the semi were not hurt.
The ones Lifewatched to the trauma center are still in critical condition.
While Ivygirl was mainly upset last night when she posted this because she thought it was high school friends on that bus -- she would like you to continue to think about these kids because they are most likely younger siblings of some of her fellow students.
It has shaken everyone pretty much, because this is a very small school district, and pretty much everyone knows everyone.
Although I know this is statistically true, Bob, it sure seems like there has been an abnormal rash of them lately, at least around here.
Back when my kids were in grade school, I was the gung-ho mom demanding they should put seat belts on buses since I'm adamant about them wearing them in the car. But then I was presented with a passelload of evidence showing 1) how rare school bus crashes were (at that time there hadn't been one in Kansas in over five years, and most were minor) and 2) how the buses were designed, etc. (you know this stuff). So I backed down.
We have had three MAJOR school bus accidents just in this area of Kansas recently. However, I will have to say in all cases, these buses were built like tanks. I mean - even in this incident -- a SEMI going the fully allowed 70MPH hit this sucker broadside. While it did make a major V -- the overall frame of the bus held together - it just spun around, and luckily didn't roll.
It helped that the semi trailer (flatbed) was empty instead of full -- a full load probably would have added about another 50,000 pounds, and lots more force.
posted
Well, actually at this intersection, I CAN understand it.
K-96 runs a diagonal, SE to NW. The road the bus was on runs straight N-S. The highway is divided four lane -- so she had crossed the first two lanes (eastbound) and was in the middle, preparing to cross the second two lanes (westbound).
This means, for the driver, who is sitting on the left-hand side of the bus, with the stairwell, etc. to her right -- she has to screw around and look far back over her right shoulder (not just simply to her right) because of this angle highway. Lots of blind spots on buses (I used to serve as a substitute bus driver). This is just a horrible angle to see traffic -- especially if there is anyone sitting in first one or two seats on that side of the bus.
posted
It was also said that one of the children was thrown from the bus. We had a discussion about seat belts in my Sociology class and how we should always wear them. Also, how stupid it was that the buses didn't have them anymore.
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I hope no one got severly injured, if they were, then I hope they get better soon, If they died(I hope not), then I hope their death was quick.
Posts: 3389 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
In my life, I've only seen about one or two buses with belts for the passengers. Drivers always have them.
Posts: 3389 | Registered: Apr 2004
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