Investigation continues into fatal school bus crash

I know several bus drivers and their fear of having seat belts is that you have now given a bus load of children a toy to whip around. That buckle on the end of the belt is going to hurt when it gets swung around. And it will get swung. Kids being kids, its going to happen.

Here's a scenario Nancy, suppose I am a junior high student riding the bus, and I feel defiant or I just don't like seatbelts or maybe I want to chat with someone behind me. I click the belt closed WITHOUT putting it around me, and just tuck it into the seat or sit on the belt. That's an easy way around the seatbelt. Again, just putting them out there for use in the hope that kids will want to wear them, falls short. The use would have to be monitored.

Don't get me wrong, if seatbelts are what should be in busses, I'm all for it and all for monitoring their use-but that's the key. Don’t assume its going to be universally accepted by the kids. Many grown adults, who know better and who know they are not immortal, ride around without being belted in; are we to assume kids will naturally be better without some way to check their seatbelt useage? That’s a leap of faith.

My heart is breaking for all those involved, the families who have suffered this overwhelming loss, the students who will return to school w/o their classmates, the teachers & administrators of this small school district,...for the bus driver who will grieve for the rest of his/her life. I drove for a community of the same size my first two years as a school bus driver, and I loved the families on my route,...I mothered their children as I mother my own. They were "my kids", but we still struggled w/behavioral issues. Please do not lay guilt on the school board for not spending $$ on seatbelts on their buses. Be honest, esp. those of you who have children of your own,...some children automatically buckle up, others don't,...others unbuckle as soon as mom or dad look away, others wear their seat belts so loosely they are no protection. Somebody made a very poor decision yesterday afternoon, and many people will suffer forever because of it. That's all there is to it. But please, the next time you are tempted to hurry up and cut off a school bus in traffic, or slide thru a stop sign to save a few seconds,...think of the children who are precious to someone. Think of the many school bus drivers who remain in their chosen occupation because they enjoy being part of raising a future generation. Trust me, it's not for the big bucks for most of us.:) Let's all keep Lakeview School District in our thoughts & prayers.

RE: this post; "I think the kids will buckle up, and if they don't the bus doesn't go...."

I drive school bus in one of the larger "cities" in North Dakota, and I use the description "city" loosely,...compared to those of you who live in the Twin Cities. I feel blessed that I don't deal w/the behavioral problems that "inner city" bus drivers deal with on a daily basis.

Have you ridden a public school bus in the past decade? More than half the kids would leave their belts unbuckled just so the bus would be delayed. They would buckle & unbuckle their belts during the route just to annoy the driver. THOSE would be the GOOD KIDS on the bus doing that. The "problem children" WOULD be using them as weapons! Not to mention the difficulty in maintaining the electronic systems involved. Many school buses are built for over 50 passengers. Buses have been painted "school bus yellow" since all of us can remember...to make them highly visible. The conscientious drivers out there...they see one and do their best to be careful when encountering one. Anybody seen a vehicle submerged in water? Should we restrain 50+ children when a parent's own worst nightmare would be "how many of my children can I unbuckle before we drown?"

I'm typing this with a heavy heart....I CANNOT begin to imagine losing one of my children, let alone two at the same time..... My deepest sympathies to the families of ALL involved.

FYI POSTERS: This is not about seat belts,noone knows forsure if seat belts on buses help our hinder- think about this: if the bus was on fire, would you want to be the bus driver- trying to unbucke 28+ children to get them out safely? I'm sure there are other scenerios, to defend seat belts- but agin, this is a "Tragic Accident" lets focus on the families, not the seat belts!

I'm betting it's just another one of these:

http://www.wvec.com/news/vabeach/stories/wvec...

http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/372149.htm...

http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Dec/20071...

nothing to see here,move along now, move along. don't ask questions.

I've been in Marshall and Lyon County quite a bit and they are just good people out there. It doesn't surprise me in the least that everyone around would rush to aid the children without hesitation.

I truly hope these families find some comfort in the fact that we all mourn for their loss.

Red Ryder wrote:

I'm betting it's just another one of these:
http://www.wvec.com/news/vabeach/stories/wvec...
http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/372149.htm...
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Dec/20071...
nothing to see here,move along now, move along. don't ask questions.

I was wondering how long it was going to take for someone to take the bait.

Thanks for being the weakest link, Red.

If the bus was on a highway and the van t-boned it, the assumtion would have to be that the van blew a stop sign. If this is the case and if the van driver isn't sent to prison for the rest of their miserable life there really is not justice in this world. They will fake remorse, but they made a consicious choice to break the law and MUST be made to pay the price for such arrogance.

Hey Upset, this will anger you more. The driver of the mini van that tboned the bus, was an illegal immigrant and had no license.

@klb:
Not to mention that she had been previously arrested in 2006 for (you guessed it) driving without a valid drivers license. Her punishment? Jailtime? Deportation? No, a $182 fine, plus they gave her a state ID card. Great work, State of MN, well played. Here's the relevant quote from the Strib:
"Authorities have identified the van driver as Alianiss Morales, 23, who neighbors say works as a turkey processor at the Jenny-O plant in Montevideo, Minn. She pleaded guilty in 2006 to driving without a valid license and paid a $182 fine. State records show Morales has no valid driver’s license, but was issued a Minnesota state identification card."

It took a whopping 28 post for this to develop into yet another in a long sad line of bigoted threads. I don't know if thats a good thing or not. As if a lily white swede has never blown thru a stop sign and hit another vehical before. No this only happens with those damn Mexicans.
You people are disgusting.
Express you sympathies for the children and their families, but leave you raciest rants out of it. No one has all the fact yet you morons.

Illegal is illegal. That person should not have been on the roads driving.

Those children may not have needlessly been hurt or killed if it wasn't for the selfish act of a person who was unlicensed and not here legally.

I for one hope that she gets many years in prison for each life she took, but sadly, because she is a female, she probably will get another $182 fine.

So getting back to the seatbelts..........lots of good comments here but I wonder what the real story is . If we took the seatbelts out of cars I'm thinking our insurance rates would go up. Wouldn't the insurance rates be cheaper if buses had seatbelts?? Are the kids riding on school buses even covered by insurance??

I absolutely agree this is an awful tragedy. But wouldn't it be worst to see a repeat in the future?
Most of the negitive comments about seatbelts could also be made for cars and yet show me a car without seatbelts.

Fred, the issues as I have been hearing, relate to the fact that school busses are NOT cars, and what may be good and easily applicable to one may not be with the other. True? I don’t know, I’m not a bus safety expert, but I’d like to hear what bus safety experts have to say on the issue.

What I have been hearing, whether valid concerns or not, but worth considering, is that seatbelts on busses would have to be lap belts that presumably place the child in danger of whipping their face into the seat in front of them or 3 point belts which have to fit children as small as pre-kindergarten age to adult. And then we get back to whether kids would voluntarily use the belts without being compelled to do so.

The simplistic, knee jerk reaction of "put in seatbelts!" is understandable--I initially felt that way also--but too premature AT THIS TIME to implement. The wrong choice, based on emotion and not careful consideration, could make things worse. I’m sure most reasonable people, who take a moment to step back and look at this, understand.

My hearts go out to "all" the families involved. You can all discuss whatever you want to on this thread, but remember, the families need your support more!

I personally know one of the families involved and and am angry that this lady doesn't have a driver's license.

I know nothing I say can ever take away your grief, but Dan & Kandy, if you read this, my families thoughts are all with you right now. Also with the rest of the families!

God will take care of your little ones until you meet again!

Kelly M

If this woman was an illegal trespasser of the United States then the families should be allowed to sue those governments responsible for her still being here after she was caught previously. My heart go’s out to all the people in Cottonwood that had loved ones on the bus!

Wouldn't be the 1st time a meat processor like Jenny-O was hiring illegals:

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8215738
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16169899/

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0208/493634....
Federal judge: Law penalizing businesses that hire illegals OK
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp...
Obama Defends Driver's Licenses for Illegals in Interview with ABC News
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/...
Illegals Begin Leaving Arizona as New Law Approaches
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,329829,00...
http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/state_regional/a...
In October of 2005, the Houston Chronicle reported that of the 47,600 other than Mexican (OTM) illegal border crossers they caught, 42,000 of them were released. Released to an underground that has been created to recreate the identity of the illegal immigrant. And you have seen what can be done with those forged documents.

Even if half of 1% of those 42,000 OTMs are terrorists, that is equal to 210 enemies of the state running free in the shadows of America’s underground. Running free to join up with the other terrorist cells already established in the United States.

This is one more reason that the border needs to be secured.

Mankato Mike wrote:

If this woman was an illegal trespasser of the United States then the families should be allowed to sue those governments responsible for her still being here after she was caught previously. My heart go’s out to all the people in Cottonwood that had loved ones on the bus!

My condolences to the families of these precious children, May you somehow find comfort.

I agree with Mankato Mike, Our country needs to enforce our immigration laws!!!

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/Ho...

what a SHOCK, an illegal crimalien.

if leftists can scream for banning gun ownership for legal citizens every time a criminal
goes nuts, surely Americans can scream about banning ILLEGAL CRIMALIENS from committing
mass murder on our highways.

http://www.wvec.com/news/vabeach/stories/wvec ...

http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/372149.htm ...

http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Dec/20071 ...

nothing to see here,move along now, move along. don't ask questions. Just calling those opposed to amnesty "racists" isn't going to cut it any more.