Johnthony Walker posed a chilling question seconds before the bus slammed into a telephone pole and a tree, according to a grieving mother who had three kids aboard the vehicle — one of whom was killed.
Walker, 24, was well above the 30-mph speed limit while driving the 35 5- to 10-year-olds home from the Woodmore Elementary School, crashing on a narrow road about a mile from the school, according to Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher.
Five children died at the scene while another later succumbed to their injuries. This would be a tragedy in and of itself, but it was compounded by the actions of the driver.
If the children are accurately telling the story, it seems like he intentionally crashed the bus!
The driver, Johnthony Walker, then accelerated and crashed into a tree so violently that it nearly ripped the bus in half.
What's even sadder about this story is that this could have easily been avoided.
Parents, a principal, and children had complained that Walker cursed at children, tried to injure them, and was unfit to be driving a bus. Those complaints went unaddressed.
This is cold comfort for the parents who lost children because of the negligence of the school in not removing Walker from his job as a bus driver.
Hopefully they can begin to pick up the pieces after this incredibly tragic event.
