Moments that Make Your Heart Pound

[Gentleladybear]

Many of you may have seen the news about the semi truck hitting a school bus yesterday. This happened near Ocala, Florida. My daughter in law's grandchildren and several of their cousins ride a bus that picks up from the schools where this bus was from. She got a call from the school about the accident. I saw the news flash and saw pictures of the truck and the bus and both were badly burned. It was stated one child had died.

I called immediately asking if the kids were on that bus, they didn't know, they were trying to locate the mom to find out and could not get an answer on her cell phone or at home. For 30 frantic minutes we attempted to call. FINALLY, the mom called and it was not her children's bus and she said at the time the news came on the kids were with her and she knew they were ok.

Today further news is coming in, apparently the 30 year old driver of the semi was on the cell phone talking when he rounded the curve and there sat the school bus letting kids off. He hit them, his truck caught on fire and cause the bus to catch on fire. The driver of the truck got out but was injuried and sent to a local hospital as was the driver of the bus. One thirteen year old girl was killed and six other kids were hurt and sent to hospitals.

Although we all breathed a sigh of relief that my DIL's grandkids and their cousins were fine, our hearts go out to the parents whose kids were hurt and especially to the parents of the 13 year old that died all because somebody was on a cell phone and not paying attention when they are driving a vehicle of any kind.

Think long and hard before you drive and use a cell phone, even out in the country. You are not as fast as you think you would be to respond to an emergency if you are on a phone!!

[avalen]

oh my goodness, I had not heard this story yet. Being a schoolbus driver myself,
we (co workers) usually always catch these kind of stories and we discuss in length
in the drivers lounge. My heart goes out to these parents, and the bus driver and
all the families. This is such a tragedy.

[Gentleladybear]

Ava I found this article if you would like to see pictures and read the story more in depth.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20080924/N ... 42012/1402

It is a sad day indeed for the school and the community.

[Cedar518]

And not only do my heartfelt thoughts go out to the family of the girl that died, and to the other families, but also to the driver of the truck who will now have to carry this in his mind for the rest of his life. I'm sure he will beat himself up mentally over his careless act that took the life of the child and injured others.

How sad.