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 Noreen Hyslop photo Dexter School Superintendent Ken Jackson, alongside bus driver Jayne James, checks on the welfare of students who were aboard Bus No. 8 this morning when it reportedly struck the van shown above in the intersection of One Mile Road and Grant Streets. The wreck sent at least two people in the van to the hospital. |
Preliminary reports indicated that the bus, driven by Jayne James, who is a regular driver of Bus No. 8 for the district, was eastbound on Grant Street and was proceeding through the intersection of Grant and One Mile Road at about 7:30 this morning when it struck a southbound van that was already proceeding through the intersection.
Unconfirmed reports stated that the bus driver was blind-sighted driving into the bright sunlight and did not see the van in the intersection.
A preliminary check of students by Supt. Ken Jackson and school personnel indicated that there were no injuries to students riding on the bus, with the exception of possibly a small bump on the head of one child that did not require medical care at the scene.
At least two passengers in the van, however, were taken by the scene with injuries, though not deemed to be serious at the time of the transfer.
Victims names were not available at presstime, but will appear in Thursday's edition of the Daily Statesman.
I am addressing all of my statement to everyone, not just you. Yes, there probably is a way to get it retracted . That would be up to my mom not me. I am really glad nothing worse happended also.
I never meant to imply I thought bus drivers should be perfect, in fact I said nobody is. The other person posted a comment about how they felt your mom was at fault, not me. It does seem like you are only concerned with what I said when in fact the other poster seemed to be far less tactful than me. As far as the paper printing things that are not true, isn't there some way you can get them to retract the false statements? Like I said I am glad that this was just a minor accident, there have been bus accidents (not in Dexter that I am aware of) that have been far worse and some kids were severely injured or killed. Thank God that was not the case here.
As I said before, no offense taken. I am a mother first before anything else and I can relate with everybody. The thing that got to me was that you made it sound like bus drivers are supposed to be perfect. As I stated, I agree that there should be extra care taken when kids are involved. NOBODY has actually stated that it was her fault. There are facts in the newspaper article that are not true. I know that in cases like this people want to automatically point the finger in one direction without knowing the whole truth. I don not take offense that easily about anything. It takes alot more than this to get me fired up. Just keep in mind that NO ONE I don't care what kind of job you do, is perfect in any way. That was my whole point in this matter. Two days after this accident happened, there was a little boy that is around 7 who ran right out in front of one of the bus drivers as she was traveling down the road. He wasn't paying attention and could have gotten hurt if she hadn't been able to stop in time. It isn't always the bus drivers faults in some situations. If this little boy had gotten hit, people would have automatically blamed it on the bus driver. How fair is that? Anyway, just like I said, keep in mind I am a mother and I can relate with how you are feeling.
I understand it was an accident, I understand your mom did not purposely have an accident, it just seemed to me that you took offense to what I said so I apologize if it seems like I implied anything different.
There was not offense taken. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We don't have to just DROP IT. It's not like that at all. I understand where everyone is coming from. But, when you said that she is still driving, that is correct. And yes, it is because it was an accident. If it had been done on purpose she would have lost her job. School officials are not going to let someone with this type of job, keep working if they thought otherwise. Yes, you are right it is personnal, but I am not blind to things either. It would be diffrent if she had a long history of having accident. The whole point is, is that it has happened and there is nothing we can do about it other than, EVERYONE needs to be more cautious.
I see your point Gemini and as I have stated before I have my reasons for not busing my kids. As for the comments about what if it was me driving.....well it wasn't and if I should ever be in such an accident I will admit fault to it. I have heard the bus driver is still driving so obviously the school officials and the police agree it was an accident, which it was. My point was I KNOW accidents happen, I just think bus drivers should be even more careful than other drivers because they are responsible for the safety and welfare of OTHER people's kids! Sorry if I offend people but it is the truth.
What would I be saying then? I would be saying the same thing. This is personal for you so maybe we should just drop it.
It's not a matter of me likeing this or not, it is a matter of yes, WE all feel really bad for this family. No one actually knowa who fault this is. Not even you. Do you believe everything that you read? I don't. Whether it is something to do with this case or not. If this had been you in the drivers seat, would you be feeling or commenting on this the same way? No, I think not!!! Everyone is quick to judge someone else as long as it is not them in this situation. Take a second and put yourself in their shoes for just a second. Or can you do that?
I was not saying that this bus driver did it on purpose but to dismiss it as an "accident" is not right. As a bus driver in charge of driving children they are held to a higher standard of care whether you like it or not. I am also speaking legally.
As for the holier than thou attitude...My comment about cold comfort meant that it is cold comfort to the boy that is looking to future plastic surgery to say "well it was an accident" when he did nothing at all to be in this position.
Yes it was an accident but that does not mean the bus driver is without fault.
Of course bus drivers need to be careful, but mizzou-mom, has it ever occured to you that they are not the only ones that have accidents. There are people who walk, drive and ride their bikes to school. EVERYONE needs to take extra precautions in these situations not just bus drivers. You never know, this could have been you that caused this accident and then what would you be saying then?
Gemini, I agree that the bus driver should have been more careful but I seriously don't believe she hit the van on purpose, I NEVER implied that. My whole point was that bus drivers should be extra careful because they are responsible for other people's children and that I personally feel safer transporting my kids to school rather than busing them. I imagine the bus driver feels bad about what happened and I hope at least this causes other bus drivers to pay extra attention.
mrs dolphin, I have a hard time believing some things are "God's will". Most things we bring on ourselves and are direct consequences of our actions. of course that is only my opinion, and you have the right to yours. I never said all people choose not to bus their kids, mine have rode the bus in the past and I may one day have no choice but to bus them again, however as long as I have the opportunity I will take them myself. As for a traffic light, it probably wouldn't solve all the congestion problems but it certainly would help. Days that a police officer is directing traffic, the cars are all gone before 3:30, if there is no "traffic cop" then it could be closer to 4:00 before all the traffic has cleared out. Makes a HUGE difference.
Cold comfort? Why do some people have a holier than thou attitude about this? Everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE makes mistakes! We're not perfect. I agree that bus drivers should be extra cautious when they drive...but just because they take this position doesn't mean they all of a sudden become PERFECT! There's no such thing! It would be like saying that because someone becomes a parent, they'll never make a mistake. Come on people...I know this lady personally...I've known her since I was 5. She is a wonderful person! She wouldn't have done this on purpose! So, therefore, that means this was an ACCIDENT! Not "cold comfort," just cold hard fact!
When we lived in Dexter and my kids were going to high school there, the lady driving the bus would race the train. At the crossing by the armory, the train would be at the curve and she would floor it so she would not be caught by the train. I took my kids off the bus and took them myself. I talked to the railroad,they were not happy at all about it. I also talked to the schools.
I was not the only one from my neighborhood that complained. But she still drove.
You can say it was just an accident but where children are concerned, there are no excuses.When you drive a bus you must take extra care. That stop sign has been there for a long time,she knew it was there,it didn't just pop up out of nowhere.
The young boy in the van almost lost the end of his nose, he has glass all in his face that will be coming out for a long time. But...as you say...it was just an accident. I call that cold comfort.
Mizzou_mom, my children are bused to school. They are bused to school because I can't afford the gas to take them everyday. I've been in 2 accidents in my life...my son's bus driver hasn't been in any. Does that make her driving safer than mine? No. If something like this is going to happen, it's God's will...the decision on taking your children to school or letting them ride the bus will not have any affect on that fact. I agree that traffic is congested. We do need a stop light...but only IF it would have the ability to keep all lanes relatively clear. As close as Southwest's parking lot is to the corner of Grant and One Mile, I doubt a stop light could control the traffic without horrible jams. Look how the stop light congests traffic at the corner of One Mile and Bus. 60 on Fridays or at lunch time. Is this really even an option? I'm not sure what they could do to relieve the congestion.
Mizzou_Mom I completely agree with you on the traffic light issue. If they would do this there wouldn't be near the problem. Your right it is personal, but also I know how it is on the corner and it could have been anyone's fault and could have happened to anyone. I don't get offended that easily so you didn't offend me with your opinion. I understand where you are coming from. As I had stated earlier, I have a child of my own and agree with you one some of your points.
Mike, in my humble opinion, the majority of the arrogant/ignorant jerks are the high school kids who drive to and from school. Only a very few have good manners and will allow a car trying to get out of the Southwest parking lot go in front of them. It has been my experience that most of them are punks who could care less, jamming to their "tunes" and acting like the fools they are. As I already mentioned if we had a traffic light things would be SO much better. Usually there is a police officer directing traffic but not every day and not on rainy or very cold days. It is very frustrating as well as dangerous.
Oh I see, it's personal for you. I have no doubt your mom is sorry, I don't imagine she hit the van on purpose. I am not just making my point about busing children based on the accident involving your mom but also past news headlines about kids being left on the buses and the fact there are no seat belts on the buses which of course have nothing to do with the drivers. My point is that some parents such as myself feel better about taking our kids to school rather than busing them for all sorts of reasons. Sorry if I have offended you with my opinion.
NO mizzou_mom I was not there, but it was my mother that was driving that bus. This was just an accident and yes thank God no one got hurt. I agree that people need to be more careful when transporting children. I am not disagreeing with that statement. I can say on my mom's part that she used to drive for the transit here in dexter and has been working for the schools now for several years. Accidents are going to happen. I am just saying that no one is perfect and if this had been you in my mothers shoes I would like to see you deal with this in this same manner as you are right now. I feel the same way as you do. I have a child myself and I would expect nothing but the very best care on the buses also. Yes, it is a very big deal for them to be super careful as you stated. I can assure you that my mother is very very very sorry for this happening. It can happen to you and you could be the one to hit a bus and then how would you feel? Sometime as hard as it is for others to understand, you need to put yourself in others shoes and see how you would feel.
littlered, how do you know what happened? Were you there on the bus? I know I was not there but I do know bus drivers need to be especially careful...they are responsible for other people's children, that's a BIG deal.
star8shooter......have you noticed how many people in this town transport their children to and from school? Enough that the traffic is so heavily congested that we need a police officer to direct traffic everyday because there is no traffic light. And as far as everyone has accidents from time to time, that's fine and dandy but NOT with a bus full of kids. Thank God none of the kids on the bus were hurt, and I will leave it at that.
All I can say about the mom that takes her children to school because she is concerned about the safety of the students who ride the bus to school is to check the safety record of the Dexter School buses vs the safety record of private transportation in route to and from the Dexter Schools over the past 10 years and let the statistics for accidents and injuries speak for themselves. School transportation is still by far the safest mode of transportation for our children.
I know that everyone has their own opinion on things that happen, but people need to get the facts straight before saying certain things. First of all I know for a fact that Jayne James never said anything to anyone about the sunlight being any kind of reasoning for this happening. She never spoke to any reporters and when she spoke to the police and school officials this comment was never made. Things like this are why bad rumors get started. I know that this is what the paper has said, but if you read the paragraph that this statement is in it also says that there were UNCOMFIMED REPORTS of this statement. Meaning that was just speculation. Noone really knows what really happen but the two that was actually in this accident. Oh, and another thing, you are right no one is perfect. Do people really think that this was something that was done on purpose. Everyone has accidents from time or time. It was considered and ACCIDENT!!!!
If we had a traffic light at the four way stop maybe accidents like this would not happen. I understand bus drivers are not perfect but they are carrying precious cargo and accidents should NOT happen. I choose NOT to bus my children because of things like this happening as well as other things such as kids getting left on the buses and no seat belts. At least I try to be extra careful driving MY kids around. Maybe the bus drivers should wear sunglasses...or PAY ATTENTION.......just a thought.
Well I did not see this happen but I do see alot of people that pull up to 4 way stops and have no clue about what's going on or are just in a hurry. They stop and proceed on someone else's turn or don't stop all the way and just run right thru it cutting anyone off in their way. I think the police need to watch these stops a little bit more closely and ticket some of these arrogant/ignorant jerks. Like I said I have no idea hwta happened here, I did not witness it. I am glad to hear everyone is ok.