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UPDATED: Child dies after being hit by bus on KY. 779
Posted On 23 Mar 2015
Police have an area of KY 779 blocked off Monday afternoon while they investigate a bus crash that killed a 10-year-old.
A 10-year-old died Monday afternoon from injuries suffered in a bus crash on KY. 779 in Whitley County.
Whitley County Coroner J. Andrew Croley said the boy, now identified as Jonathan A. Chatham, of Rockholds, was killed after getting off Whitley County Schools bus 993 on Ky. 779 near the intersection with Flat Creek Road.
"He got off the bus and for some reason entered the path of the bus again as it was moving forward," Croley said of the child, whose name is being witheld pending notification of the family. "We don’t know why."
According to Kentucky State Police Public Affairs Trooper Lloyd Cochran, Chatham was dropped off at the stop with three other students by bus driver Amanda Woliver, 33, of Williamsburg. When Woliver started to drive away, Chatham was somehow struck by the bus. Police do not expect drugs or alchol were factors in the accident.
Officials at the scene said there were approximately 20 other children on the bus at the time.
A second bus was brought in to finish the route. Parents and guardians were notified and children were released to their custody.
Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell, who was assisting at the scene, was charged with taking several of the students home, including one that suffered a panic attack.
Whitley County Schools Superintendent Scott Paul and other school system administrators also responded to the scene.
Calls to Paul seeking details about the driver and the bus have not yet been returned.
Classes for the Whitley County School System have been cancelled for Tuesday.
KSP Trooper Craig Reed is continuing the investigation. He was assisted at the scene by Troopers from Post 11, Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement Officers, Kentucky State Police Collision Analysis Officer Jerry Jones, Whitley County Sheriff’s Office, Whitley County EMS and Woodbine Fire Department.
Check back to www.thenewsjournal.net for more details as they become available.
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It’s not going to help things at all to lash out in anger towards the bus ?? driver, I think that bus ?? driver has to suffer enough punishment for the rest of his/her life. I feel just as sympathetic for that driver as I do for the family ?? of the child who was ACCIDENTALLY killed. Right now, joining together in prayer ?? is the best thing to do about this situation. May God be with EVERYONE who was involved that sad ?? day. My condolences to the family ??.
It’s not going to help things at all to lash out in anger towards the bus ?? driver, I think that bus ?? driver has to suffer enough punishment for the rest of his/her life. I feel just as sympathetic for that driver as I do for the family ?? of the child who was ACCIDENTALLY killed. Right now, joining together in prayer ?? is the best thing to do about this situation. May God be with EVERYONE who was involved that sad ?? day. My condolences to the family ??.
It’s not going to help things at all to lash out in anger towards the bus ?? driver, I think that bus ?? driver has to suffer enough punishment for the rest of his/her life. I feel just as sympathetic for that driver as I do for the family ?? of the child who was ACCIDENTALLY killed. Right now, joining together in prayer ?? is the best thing to do about this situation. May God be with EVERYONE who was involved that sad ?? day. My condolences to the family ??.
Here we go again blaming the school system.First of all. Courtney you have no idea what truly happened.To say sue Whitley County For What.A Accident that happened .This familys needs prayer And so does the bus driver along with the children on the bus as well Whitley North staff and friends.And lets think before we judge .Negative thoughts doesnt help anyone.
I followed that bus a lot coming home from work. I would much rather be in front of it than have to follow it because I can tell you that was one bus that did not
speed. I also noticed how the bus driver always pulled out from a bus stop slow and I never saw the bus move until the children were completely out of the way. I have seen children after the bus was leaving come back out of their driveway back into the road to get mail from the mailbox or chase each other around. Children are children and don’t always realize the dangers.
How horrible. It sounds like a terrible, terrible accident. just that, an accident. We may never know what exactly happened. Did he fall, did he forget something, who knows. NO MATTER HOW CAREFUL WE ARE, THINGS HAPPEN. Called ACCIDENTS. I cannot imagine the grief the poor bus driver must be going through. What a terrible time for the whole community.
@Britta Gray; very good suggestion. It is too much for one person. With one person there will always be a certain amount of luck involved, which could be eliminated using two. Condolences to all.
Courtney
From what I’ve read there is no reason for you to say such harsh things about the bus driver. None of the stories printed have told anything other then the fact the child somehow stepped back into the ditch line and ended up under the bus wheels. If you have personal knowledge (eye witness at the scene) as to what happened I’m sure the officers who are working the case would like to speak to you. If not it may be best for you to keep your comments to yourself and pray for everyone involved.
You know everyone should not blame or judge that bus driver there were factors there that happen which no one knows but the people who were involve the parents of that child are having a hard time but so is that bus driver’s family she is a young mother with family too and to do this job takes a very caring person and they do need a adult bus monitors to help. Do pray for the famlies involved
No bus driver should ever move until the child has crossed the street! They take these kids home every day and they know whether or not which side of the road they go to! This is sad, and really is pathetic if you ask me!!! A 10yr. Old little child Los their life because a bus driver, (that’s prolly drove their whole life, and probably drove this child home his whole time of being in school ??) this really bothers me! I hope these patents after a little passion and suffering goes away sues them and takes more than that county is even worth!!!!!
the child got off the bus tripped or something and ended up in the front of the moving bus its really sad their supposed to have bus monitors prayers for the family and driver and the children
the child got off the bus tripped or something and ended up in the front of the moving bus its really sad their supposed to have bus monitors prayers for the family and driver and the children
the child got off the bus tripped or something and ended up in the front of the moving bus its really sad their supposed to have bus monitors prayers for the family and driver and the children
This is so sad, but if monitors were on the buses to help watch the kids on the bus while the bus drivers can watch the kids when they are getting off the bus things like this might not happen. This is a tragedy, we have teachers aids hall monitors and yet we can’t pay someone to help the bus drivers to help with one of our precious gifts from God. We need to make sure this never happens again. We can’t expect one person to drive in the traffic we have now, watch 30 or more kids on a bus. The monitors should get off at each stop and make sure the kids are going in the right direction. Praying for this family and all that is involved.
Did anyone hit the bus or was just the bus?