[MomInAL]

I just read this in the article on CNN.

All were adopted foster children, except for Anthony, who was in the process of being adopted, Burroughs said.

Full CNN Article

Also, this kids grandfather had a massive heart attack and also died upon hearing the news. We need to keep this family in our thoughts and prayers.

MomInAL

[eagleskd]

They are all in our thoughts and prayers, what a terrrible accident and a great loss to the parents.

[shy_bear]

I don't want to seem heartless b/c what happened is awful. The driver was 15, no adult was in the car, and he was not a licensed driver. Where was the mother and why was she letting this child drive all of these children around?

[AmyAnne]

This is horrible. However, why was the 15 year old driving on a learner's permit with no adult? I know it was not a contributing factor to the crash, but why is this not being addressed??

[angelkisses0102]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/25/bus.crash/index.html



Quote:
"Yes, she's 15, she had her learner's permit, she knows how to drive," Mann said.

"Even though she was an under-age driver, it's my understanding she did not cause the accident," she said. "The same thing would have happened had there been an adult in the car with her. We'd just have one more death in the family."




How heartbreaking! How tragic! What a living hell she has to endure.

Just an FYI...in Florida you can get a learner's permit at 15 and many of the kids in the rural areas can and do drive at 15 alone. That really shouldn't be a focus...that poor mom.

I posted this in the Russian forum...no one should be second guessing this mom right...she has the rest of her life to do that. Here is the link to that discussion.
Florida Bus Crash

[MomInAL]

We live in a very rural area too and it is not uncommon for underage kids to be driving around here. Is it right? No. Do I let my kids do it? No. Does that change the fact that that's the way people do things around here? No.

In fact, my two oldest didn't even get their PERMIT until they were 16... and my oldest didn't get her license until she was 17 1/2.... and the other 15 and 16 yo girls I have in my house always ask me if they can drive, but I don't let them.

The aunt is right in this particular situation though. If there had been an adult in the car, there would just be one more death in the family. Even though it was an underage driver, that alone had nothing to do with the accident.

MomInAL
BD 18, BD 16, guardian to D 16
FD 15, FS 11, FS 9 (siblings)

[Shoshana]

I wrote this on the Russian forum

My prayers are with the family and everyone affected by this tragedy.

I think sometimes people look for 'explanations' in the face of an apparently senseless tragedy. The driver's age is irrelevant. The accident was not her fault, nor was it her mother's fault for allowing her to drive. I'm sure the mother will struggle with self-recriminations and 'what-if's' for the rest of her life -- let's not add to them.

This is a new addition -- My parents lost their bio-daughter to leukemia when she was 3. She would have been in her early 50's now. My mother STILL blames herself for Janelle's death. Why? Because my mother let her drink too much milk and because the symptom that triggered the diagnosis was a cut on the roof of her mouth that she got when she fell with a toy.

Why aren't we asking questions about the person who caused the accident?

[angelkisses0102]

Why aren't we asking questions about the person who caused the accident?

Exactly! The article states it was a clear day on a straight road and the semi driver never even hit the brakes...how could he not see 2 stopped vehicles...one being a school bus?

[AmyAnne]

I never said it was the mother's fault. I never said I was blaming the mom. What I more wanted to know was what were the circumstances leading to the 15 year old driving unsupervised.

As for the driver, when/if he wakes up, those questions will be answered.

[shy_bear]

I think the truck driver should be held accountable for his actions, like someone else said how can you not notice a school bus stopped?

On the other hand, the mother does need to take some responsilbity. If she had not let her children pile into a car with a nonlicensed child they would not have been there at the time of this accident. I know I had my permit at 15, I was a responsible good kid, never was I in any trouble and my parents would have NEVER let me drive alone.

Also, one of these children was not legally adopted by this family. This mom had to know after adopting 6 times through the state that the state would not allow a foster child to be in a car with a nonlicensed driver.

Everyone can what if all day when it comes down to it. It is a very sad situation and hopefully this family will be able to go on.

[echobunny89]

Don't blame the victim! Yes, this child should not have been driving without an adult in the car but the fact is she didn't cause the accident.

My thoughts and prayers are with this family. God rest their souls.

[eagleskd]

There should be no blame at this time. This is plain and simple TERRIBLE TRAGEDY!!!!! Nobody should be pointing fingers. We should support and pray for this family.

[Kindreds]

There were too many passengers in this car. Were two or more each sharing a seat belt...sitting on each others laps? How did the baby's car seat fit with all these passengers. Too many passengers even for an experienced driver with all the distractions - talking, moving around. Teens in vehicles do not sit quietly - usually the radio is blearing - enough to rattle and experienced driver. Had this accident not occured -there is a good chance another one would have happened. What was this mother thinking allowing her daughter to run her errands and why did the entire family have to go on this trip? Yes - the driver of the truck must answer for this, but at the same time many will be questioning about the judgment of this mother ( and where was the father in all of this - why was he not sent to drop these children off)

[angelkisses0102]

It is so sad that so many want to place the blame on the victims and the mother. SO SAD!

What is the saying? 'Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.'

Who here is such a perfect parent that they have never made a questionable parenting decision or even a downright stupid one...I know I have and but by the grace of God and lots of dumb luck...my decision and it's consequences (or lack thereof) are not plastered all over the internet and newspapers for so many to judge me. There are so many things to discuss...but to blame the mother? Dang, that truck driver never even slowed down or swerved until AFTER he hit them...he pushed the bus over 200 ft! That mother has to SEE the accident...don't you think that is her eternal punishment...to know that all of her babies were in that mangled, firey wreck. Put yourself in her shoes for one second....imagine the pain of losing your child or children all at once.

Why do we love to find fault instead of sympathy? Does saying she 'shoulda, woulda, coulda' bring back those children? Does it ease her pain or just amplify it.

Geez...blaming the victim???? So sad!

***edited to add***
I believe I read it was a van....not that it matters.

[mckenna]

why is the mother only getting blamed? was she a single mom? if you want to question the mother's decision to let her 15 y/o drive with too many children in the car and not properly restrained, why not the father?