Child Hit By Bus Outside of Fort Wilderness

[Luvchefmic]

I posted yesterday of my feelings of sorrow and shock. Last night (as many others) I had the family on my mind. As an EMT (emergency medical technician) for over 20 yrs I had been at too many of these scenes. My additional thought is the little girl that was with her friend. I pray she gets into grief counseling, therapy, whatever..quickly. This will be with her the rest of her life. The driver also.

The thing that really bothers me to is the news coverage tv, internet, hard copy newspapers; I realize they bring it up for statistical purposes but I wish the news could just get reported and not in the same story reiterate the last bus accident, the monorail accident, etc. It was a tragic accident God Bless all that were involved.

Another thing that is upsetting to me as like I previously said I know about accident scenes and am very familiar with the workings of FHP (Florida Hwy Patrol for those that don't live here). They do a stellar investigation. I also know that as a wife of a truck driver that the avg time he gets training when he starts a new co. driving 18 wheelers as an employee pales in comparison to the training to Disney bus training....not that I'm suggesting fault here..just saying it because right away people start critiqueing and the usual conclusion is to point fingers of blame. So when you hear those things or read them please remember that for the sake of the driver.

Sorry so long winded. Prayers.

 

[stashbin]

From local WESH TV:

"Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Kim Montes said both of the children were on the side of the road where there is a sidewalk. A preliminary investigation showed the boy left the sidewalk and entered the roadway.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The girl was not hurt.

"The little boy ... left the sidewalk and went into the southbound lanes of Big Pine Drive, struck the side of the bus and then was subsequently pulled underneath the bus and run over by the bus," Montes said.

*posting picture only to show how close the sidewalk is situated to roadway

http://www.wesh.com/entertainment/23026301/detail.html

Just looking at this picture and seeing how close the sidewalk is to a major roadway, I know I would never allow my children to ride their bikes in a place like that...side walk or no side walk. My heart goes out to the families of both the victim and the driver.

 

[mrsklamc]

I have not been to Ft Wilderness and unfortunately don't have kiddos yet. Is it not odd that a 9 and 10 year old were riding bikes around with no adults?

 

[brittsmum1998]

I have not been to Ft Wilderness and unfortunately don't have kiddos yet. Is it not odd that a 9 and 10 year old were riding bikes around with no adults?

My dd is 12 and mature for her age. I let her stay home by herself sometimes while I'm shopping etc. I would NOT let her ride bikes w/ another tween and w/out adult supervision.

The area is too unfamiliar.

Of course thats just my opinion and I don't want people to think I am AT ALL blaming that poor childs family because I AM NOT.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have not been to Ft Wilderness and unfortunately don't have kiddos yet. Is it not odd that a 9 and 10 year old were riding bikes around with no adults?

As a kid, I did wander about Fort Wilderness. Never on that stretch that I think is closer to the front. I can't recall if it was a family rule, or I just stuck to where it was safe.

The whole accident is unfortunate and the grandmother's accusation is just horrific. (She's essentially claiming that the boy couldn't have left the sidewalk that the bus must have swerved to hit him. )

It is a low speed limit in FW and the busses (IME) do adhere to it--but physics rules the day and it doesn't take a high speed to produce a fatal injury in a sad contest between a child and a vehicle of any size.

Those sidewalks *could* be safer by having a railing to separate the roadway from the sidewalk, but FW has been around for over 3 decades and this is the first death of a child on a bike. It is much safer than your average neighborhood--but it isn't a substitute for proper parental supervision.

 

[Christine]

I have not been to Ft Wilderness and unfortunately don't have kiddos yet. Is it not odd that a 9 and 10 year old were riding bikes around with no adults?

I don't think it's odd; however, I probably would not let my kids do that at Ft. Wilderness at that age. I've never stayed at Ft. Wilderness but have gone over a few times for the Hoop Dee Doo. A couple of times I did the bus thing and I was amazed at how much bus traffic there was and how narrow the roads were. There are also a LOT of people on foot there, running across streets, walking along the shoulders, etc. And to be honest, I sometimes felt the busses were traveling too fast. Knowing all that, I wouldn't let a younger kid ride a bike through there.

 

[TONNIE]

Wow your dad must not go anywhere because just as many people get hurt at local fairs and carnivals.

 

[TONNIE]

Every year MANY people die in tragic accidents in Southern Jersey and every other place in the world. What odd logic by your dad.

I was just reading a news article on this accident and The parents are devastated they blame disney for the accident. kids are kids and dont always have the best judgement. I am really bothered by this because if disney was at fault how did the young man hit the side of the bus not the front. Why were they alone 9 and 11 is to young my son is 12 and I will not let him ride alone anywhere

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I was just reading a news article on this accident and The parents are devastated they blame disney for the accident. kids are kids and dont always have the best judgement. I am really bothered by this because if disney was at fault how did the young man hit the side of the bus not the front. Why were they alone 9 and 11 is to young my son is 12 and I will not let him ride alone anywhere

B/c grandma says the driver hit the kid on purpose.

Kids will be kids--

And roads will ALWAYS be roads. Just b/c they are on Disney property--they have posted speed limits and pedestrians YIELD to traffic (as do bicyclists) when a ROAD is involved. If I'm not mistaken, it is on the literature provided at check-in.

The parents--I'm sorry--but they are ticking me off right about now.

I don't let my kids roam about Fort Wilderness b/c I know them and would prefer that a mistake on their part doesn't lead to their death--b/c there are roads with 20mph speed limits. That is plenty fast enough to kill someone in the wrong place at the wrong time. Why take chances. The Fort is not a babysitting servie.

 

[terri01p]

 

[MelanieC]

Wow how tragic. My prayers go out to the family, as well as the bus driver. I can't even imagine how his life is changed forever.

 

[terri01p]

 

[sorcerormickey]

I'm sure this is a flammable opinion, but the mom is a liar. The kid rode into the side of the bus, now she is saying the bus jumped the curb and hit her son? Um yeah, she is just looking for a big payout. There was even a witness that was riding behind him that confirmed the kid hit the bus.

She was just interviewed on the news and she wasn't even upset. Just dollar signs in her eyes. (I do feel horrible for what happened, but the mom just makes me so mad.)

 

[Ohiodislover]

I'm sure this is a flammable opinion, but the mom is a liar. The kid rode into the side of the bus, now she is saying the bus jumped the curb and hit her son? Um yeah, she is just looking for a big payout. There was even a witness that was riding behind him that confirmed the kid hit the bus.

She was just interviewed on the news and she wasn't even upset. Just dollar signs in her eyes. (I do feel horrible for what happened, but the mom just makes me so mad.)

Not going to flame you. I just hope that in her grief, she is angry and looking for someone to blame. That would be a normal reaction, and hopefully she will come to her senses and realize that it isn't the case.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Wow, did grandma really say that? You wouldn't happen to have a link do you? I can't seem to find anything.

Grandma gives great advice in general---

But she's lying through her grief. She didn't even witness it and sadly, regardless of the investigation--grandma will acutally believe that the Disney workers go out of their way to deliberately harm children. It's horrible!

"People at Disney World right now at (Fort Wilderness), if you're listening to me, do not let your children out there on those sidewalks," said Barbara Burkett, Chase's grandmother. "Do not let your children by themselves on those sidewalks because those buses -- I know it came over and hit him. They say he ran into it. That's absolutely not true."

http://www.clickorlando.com/family/23035798/detail.html

I'm ticked on that drivers behalf--she's just short of accusing the driver of murder IMHO.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not going to flame you. I just hope that in her grief, she is angry and looking for someone to blame. That would be a normal reaction, and hopefully she will come to her senses and realize that it isn't the case.

I don't know about that.

Is it normal to imply that someone deliberately killed your child? Grandma needs a physics lesson. How does someone deliberately hit the child with the side of the bus?

 

[Jestocost]

My dad, who is against Disney for so many reasons I can't name them, blames them and says that it is a dangerous place to go, and you put your life in their hands. He says every year someone dies there, and he wouldn't pay any money to go there.

As I posted previously--on this thread or one of the 37 others on this story--WDW by itself is essentially a medium-sized American city. I would suggest that most cities that have the "population" of WDW have many more deaths per year from accidents than there are at WDW. And those cities likely have a much smaller public transportation system and a significantly smaller percentage of people who don't know their way around.

 

[Ohiodislover]

I don't know about that.

Is it normal to imply that someone deliberately killed your child? Grandma needs a physics lesson. How does someone deliberately hit the child with the side of the bus?

Like I said "I HOPE"

Anger is a normal stage of the grieving process. I am not defending Grandma/mom whatever. I just HOPE that she comes to her senses. I would imagine too, that she feels horribly horribly guilty about the boy being where he was in the first place, and needs someone to blame. Its not fair and not right.

 

[PelletierBears]

Like I said "I HOPE"

Anger is a normal stage of the grieving process. I am not defending Grandma/mom whatever. I just HOPE that she comes to her senses. I would imagine too, that she feels horribly horribly guilty about the boy being where he was in the first place, and needs someone to blame. Its not fair and not right.

I also hope it's anger talking but then again I can't imagine actually sitting down and being interviewed the day after I lost my child! I know everyone handles their emotions differently but come on!

We've never stayed at the Fort but have stayed at Wilderness Lodge so have been on the buses as they've gone thru the Fort and around the property. I would NEVER let my child ride their bike near the rode.
If there is anything Disney could have done to help prevent this it would be to have a rail installed between the sidewalk/bike path and the road.

The driver must be absolutely devastated. My heart goes out to everyone involved. I can't imagine having been one of the 28 people riding on that bus! How do you enjoy your vacation after that?

 

[phorsenuf]

What's so sad too is a few years ago his brother drowned. Those poor parents. Losing both of their children so tragically.