Thread: FL: School bus hit by tractor-trailer

Bystanders credited with saving students from burning school bus in north Fla.By Associated Press
10:11 AM EDT, September 24, 2008

CITRA, Fla. (AP) _ Passers-by are being credited with pulling students from a school bus that caught fire after it was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer in north Florida, killing one teenager, a school official said.

"This was a tragedy, but it's also a miracle," Marion County Superintendent of Schools Jim Yancey told the Ocala Star-Banner. "We're lucky one person got out of there alive."

About 20 middle and high school students were on the bus when it was rear-ended Tuesday afternoon. Two were critically injured and several others had injuries not considered life-threatening.

The student who died was identified as Frances M. Schee, 13.

"The kid was lodged and I just couldn't get

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld ... 2755.story

What an unfortunate tragedy.

The article doesn't indicate whether or not the driver of the truck was an illegal immigrant. Does anyone know? And if he isn't, the article just doesn't belong here. And if he is, we all need to be screaming. Please don't take offense to my response, I just don't want to see us go down a road that condemns all Hispanics "just because."

melena29
I don't understand your reply, there is no mention of the driver being Hispanic and the post is in "Other Topics News and Issues"
"For discussions and news that are not on the topic of illegal immigration and immigration."

Its just a news story

FHP: Truck driver was on his cell

By AUSTIN L. MILLER
Star-Banner


Published: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 9:41 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 2:56 p.m.
CITRA - The truck driver who rear-ended a school bus on Tuesday afternoon, killing a 13-year-old and injuring other students, told investigators he was on his cell phone just before impact.


ALAN YOUNGBLOOD/STAR-BANNER An 18-wheeler crashed into the back of a school bus on U.S. 301 in Citra Tuesday afternoon.

STATISTICS ON BUS ACCIDENTSThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provided the following data on school transportation accidents between 1996 and 2006:

* 1,536 people have died in school transportation-related crashes. By way of comparison, in 2007 alone there were 41,059 traffic fatalities in the United States.

* That was an average of 140 fatalities per year.

* Of the 140 fatalities, 72 percent were occupants of other vehicles.

* Of the 140 fatalities, 20 percent were non-occupants such as pedestrians or bicyclists.

* Of the 140 fatalities, 7 percent were school bus occupants.

* About 57 percent of crashes involving a school bus involved another vehicle.

* In 53 percent of all crashes involving fatalities to occupants of a school bus, the principle point of impact was the front of the bus. The least common point of impact was the rear.

* Of 41 fatal school bus crashes between 1996 and 2006, 17 involved the front of the bus, 6 involved the right side, 3 involved the left side, and 3 involved the rear.

* Each year, 23.5 million children ride 450,000 school buses to school.

* Those 450,000 school buses travel about 4.3 billion miles annually.


Related Links:
'She had a wonderful smile'
Girl killed, 8 hurt as semi hits bus
Passers-by help rescue students from blaze
More Photos:
School Bus Crash 09.23.08
A Florida Highway Patrol report says Reinaldo A. Gonzalez, 30, of Orlando, told investigators that he had been on the phone just before the 1991 Freightliner he was driving slammed into the stopped bus. The report lists driver distraction, careless driving and possible faulty brakes as contributing factors of the accident on U.S. 301 in Citra.

FHP officials planned to review phone records to confirm that Gonzalez had been on the phone.

The early report says the 1996 school bus, which had stopped to let children off at Northeast 155th Street Road, had its warning lights on and stop signs out. The truck failed to stop for it and rammed the school bus forward 294 feet.

The driver of the truck jumped out of the cab before the vehicles stopped. The two vehicles burst into flames.

Gonzalez - who was the owner/operator of the rig - later told another truck driver that he didn't see the school bus.

Frances Margay Schee, a 13-year-old North Marion Middle School student, was killed on the bus. The preliminary report released Wednesday morning also listed the names of five North Marion high and middle school students who were injured. These students were treated and released at Munroe Regional Medical Center Tuesday night:

* Melvin Johnson, 12

* Natalya Mitchell, 13

* Taylor Parker, 12

* Ashley Axson, 14

* Joshua Humber, 16

Another student, Joshua's sister JaSena Humber, 11, was seriously injured and was at Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Gonzalez and bus driver Anzoria N. Allen-James also were taken to the hospital with injuries.

On Wednesday morning, investigators were making measurements at the scene of the crash to determine how fast the 18-wheeler was going, FHP Capt. Greg LaMont said.

FHP officials said the truck was hauling household supplies, including fluorescent bulbs, from Jacksonville to a Home Depot in Groveland.

LaMont said investigators have also requested Gonzalez's complete driving record.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20080924/N ... 998/0/news

The early report says the 1996 school bus, which had stopped to let children off at Northeast 155th Street Road, had its warning lights on and stop signs out. The truck failed to stop for it and rammed the school bus forward 294 feet.

The driver of the truck jumped out of the cab before the vehicles stopped. The two vehicles burst into flames.

Gonzalez - who was the owner/operator of the rig - later told another truck driver that he didn't see the school bus.

And HOW does one manage to NOT see a huge yellow thing on wheels in front of oneself??????

He's so full of it ... he was probably distracted (cell phone, laptop, putting his lipstick on, whatever) and was obviously FLYING to have pushed the bus forward almost 300 feet!!!

It bothers me that there is an automatic assumption as well. Part of my family is Hispanic and some favor amnesty but some very loudly do not.

Richard ,

Where is the automatic assumption in the original post?

Originally Posted by jimpasz

Richard ,

Where is the automatic assumption in the original post?

The assumption was inferred because:

1) Gonzalez is typically a Hispanic surname, and

2) This forum is primarily one which deals with the issue of illegal immigration, and unfortunately for Americans of Hispanic descent, most illegal immigrants in the country at this time are Hispanic (I believe the estimates are 90%), hence the only reason to post it here is because it may relate to the issue.

Therefore, the conclusion that the driver is of Hispanic descent, and that he is probably illegal are valid. However, in the interest of success with regard to the battle we are fighting, as well as ensuring the well-being of Americans of Hispanic descent, I am suggesting that before posting an article of this nature we should be absolutely certain that it pertains to the cause, and does not unwittingly denigrate the innocent.

Again, I mean no offense. I just think we really, really need to get this right.

Point well taken, the original post did not contain the drivers name,
the news story is like a lot of news stories that are posted in this forum.
Other Topics News and Issues
For discussions and news that are not on the topic of illegal immigration and immigration.




If this had been placed in" News Stories from ALIPAC Members"
News Stories from ALIPAC Members
Members of ALIPAC can post their own news stories here. 6 stories per week will be chosen to go on our homepage. Articles must be on the topics of illegal immigration, aliens, gangs, laws, campaigns, legal immigrantion, terrorists, Americans, border patrol, and security.
Then I would agree with you and a mod would have moved it.

I could have an automatic assumption that the guy was drunk if you can't see a bus for crying out loud. It will be interesting to see if more information comes out.