Sixth child dies as result of deadly Tennessee school bus crash

His voice cracking with emotion, Durham School Services CEO David Duke said he is struggling to fathom the anguish of parents and his company’s role in the loss of their children.

The tragic trip began on a routine drive after classes let out at Woodmore Elementary School.

Johnthony Walker, 24, of Chattanooga was arrested on five counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving.

Demetrius Jenkins, 22, was dropping off his first-grade son, Jermaine Bradley, at school the day after his best friend was killed when her school bus crashed. But according to authorities, he was driving way faster than the speed limit of 30 miles per hour when he somehow slammed the bus into a telephone pole.

There are two separate investigations ongoing– a criminal investigation and a federal investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine how it happened.

Mateen said that when she received a call from the school officials about the tragedy on Tuesday, she reminded them that she had complained several times about the driver before the accident. “Right now it appears that one contributing factor may be speed but that is part of an active, ongoing investigation”, CPD Chief Fred Fletcher said. No other cars were involved. And almost two dozen more are injured, some critically. Clumps of backpacks, clothing and other items were left behind as ambulances raced to the wreckage. “I never saw her sad, never saw her mad”.

Of the five children confirmed dead after Monday’s crash, three were fourth-graders, one was a first-grader and one was a kindergartner.

Jasmine Mateen said three of her four daughters were on the bus when it crashed at around 3:20 p.m. local time on Monday. Six students remain in the ICU as of Tuesday morning, six other students are still hospitalized, and other injured students have already been released to their families, Hamilton County Interim Superintendent Kirk Kelly said Tuesday morning.

Thirty-five students from kindergarten through fifth grade were on board Monday afternoon when the bus flipped onto its side and wrapped around a tree.

No traces of alcohol or drugs were found in Walker’s blood, lead police investigator Sgt. Austin Garrett.

Walker’s bond is set at $107,500.

A pediatric emergency room doctor at the hospital where injured students were taken says matching the injured with parents was a long process.

Previously, Walker’s license had been suspended for a month in 2014 for failure to show proof of insurance, according to state commercial driver records. But Hart said it takes more than seat belts to prevent injuries. Investigators will be looking at data recorders to help piece together what happened.

There have been several attempts to pass laws to require seat belts in MA, but all have failed.

The Titans Foundation will donate $25,000 to The Woodmore Fund following the tragic school bus accident involving Woodmore Elementary School students on November 21 in Chattanooga.

“It is a complicated crime scene that covers a significant area”.

Six-year-old Zyaira Mateen was killed and her sisters, 6-year-old Zasmyn and 10-year-old Zacauree’a are both still in intensive care, according to their mother.

“So he was kind of freaked out when he got out of the vehicle”. “But I can assure you that the public safety professionals in Chattanooga are prepared and trained to make sure this is investigated thoroughly”. All the children went to Woodmore Elementary School.