Updated story on 7 children killed in crash

[smilie]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/27/bus.crash.ap/index.html

How sad for this family. Just seems to be getting worse.

 

[Dan Murphy]

A very sad story indeed. Can't imagine the sorrow and pain.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Definitely one of the saddest stories I've ever heard.

 

[RadioFanatic]

can someone copy the story here? I can't seem to pull it up - thanks!

 

[Kristi1357]

I can't get it either.

 

[mickeyboat]

Hoping to adopt, mom instead has to bury toddler

Friday, January 27, 2006; Posted: 9:07 a.m. EST (14:07 GMT)

Nicky Mann, top left, Elizabeth Mann, top right, Johnny Mann, center, and Heaven Mann.
Image:

LAKE BUTLER, Florida (AP) -- Barbara and Terry Mann were supposed to complete their adoption of a 20-month-old boy on Thursday. Instead, they were planning funerals for him and their other four children -- all killed in a fiery car wreck.

The accident Wednesday, which also killed two young relatives, cast a pall over this small town of about 2,000 people in northern Florida. After hearing of the accident, Barbara Mann's grief-stricken father suffered a heart attack and died.

"It's hard to fathom what it's like to lose five children, two nieces and a father in one shot. It seems like a burden too big to bear," said Scott Fisher, a family spokesman and pastor at the Lake Butler Church of Christ. (Watch as news of the deaths proved to be unbearable -- 1:18)

Friends and family came together to mourn the deaths of the seven children as investigators tried to piece together how the three-vehicle accident happened on a clear day on a road free of obstructions.

A tractor-trailer rear-ended the children's car and crushed it against a school bus that had stopped to drop off students, authorities said. The car burst into flames, and everyone inside was killed, including 15-year-old Nicky Mann, who was driving illegally with just a learner's permit and was apparently taking her adopted siblings home from school. Three children on the bus were seriously injured.

Along with Nicky, who was the Manns' biological child, and soon-to-be-adopted Anthony Lamb, the other victims were identified by authorities and friends as the Manns' three adopted children -- Elizabeth, 15; Johnny, 13; and Heaven, 3 -- and the couple's nieces, Ashley Keen, 13, and Miranda Finn, 8. Authorities had originally identified the victims as seven adopted brothers and sisters.

Members of the community described the Manns as a couple who lovingly and constantly opened their home to foster children.

Tammy Griffins, the church's student ministry director, said: "If foster care called them, it didn't matter what time of night it was when they got called, they were always willing to take them."

"They wanted 10 children," said Wanda Lewis, director of children at Fellowship Baptist Church in Raiford. "They just had a heart for the love of children that no one else wanted, the ones that no one else would have taken."

Lewis said Nicky was "just a fun, loving, caring girl" who doted on her adopted siblings. "She did everything for them, changed their diapers. She was the mother hen," Lewis said.

The children's relatives declined to talk with The Associated Press. But Tina Mann told CNN that her niece Nicky had dropped off another child and was taking her siblings home to get ready for church.

"Even though she was an underage driver, it's my understanding she did not cause the accident," Mann told CNN. "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."

Tara Brown, a sophomore at Lake Butler High School, said that Nicky was her best friend and that she picked up the other children from school every day.

Steven Murphy, head of Partnership for Strong Families, declined to comment when asked whether his agency knew Nicky apparently often drove illegally to pick up the children, saying he wanted to wait until the accident investigation is finished.

The private agency contracts with the state to handle foster care in the area.

Truck investigated
Charges were pending against the 31-year-old truck driver, Alvin Wilkerson of Jacksonville. He suffered minor injuries. Wilkerson declined comment through his father-in-law, Deangelo Heysercy. Outside Wilkerson's house, Heysercy said only that "my heart goes out to that family."

The Florida Highway Patrol initially reported that there were no brake marks on the road to indicate the trucker tried to stop. But David Rayburn of the National Transportation Safety Board said investigators have not determined that yet.

Authorities were looking into whether the truck had a mechanical failure or the driver was tired or talking on a cell phone, among other possibilities, Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Mike Burroughs said. Also, a sample of Wilkerson's blood will be tested for alcohol, Burroughs said.

The trucker was cited in 2000 for driving with a suspended license and twice, in 2000 and 2001, for operating a vehicle in unsafe condition, according to state officials.

The road is straight and flat in the area. Four fatal crashes have occurred along that part of the road over the past five years, Burroughs said.

Grief counselors and others were on hand Thursday to help students deal with the tragedy in Lake Butler, which is about 60 miles southwest of Jacksonville.

"We're just talking about all the good times we had with them. And just trying to remember all that. They're just in such shock," Griffins said.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

[LisaNJ25]

can someone copy the story here? I can't seem to pull it up - thanks!

The grandfather had a heart attack and died after hearing the news

I dont undertsand why the let the 15yo drive all of the kids around. I know it was not her fault. But she should not of been driving in the first place

 

[Laurajean1014]

Very sad. It's not fair.

 

[Magickndm]

This happened not too far from me, it is all they've been showing on the news. I can't remember a sadder story.
As far as the driver being under age, yes she was, but it really is a moot point. Especially since the accident had nothing to do with her driving abilities.
When the news media asked what people can do to help, the authorities simply said the only thing to do now is pray for the family.

Here's some info if anyone does want to help:http://firstcoastnews.com/links/news-article.aspx?storyid=50486
Two funds are set up for the family of seven children killed in a fiery crash along State Road 121 Wednesday.

You can donate to the Mann Family by calling one of the two numbers listed below.

Mann Family Fund - Community State Bank
1-386-496-3333

Mann Memorial Fund - Mercantile Bank
1-800-238-8681

 

[kimber79]

How terribly sad. I cannot even imagine the pain and sorrow that this family is/will endure. My heart goes out to them.

 

[kimber79]

As far as the driver being under age, yes she was, but it really is a moot point. Especially since the accident had nothing to do with her driving abilities.

You can donate to the Mann Family by calling one of the two numbers listed below.

Mann Family Fund - Community State Bank
1-386-496-3333

Mann Memorial Fund - Mercantile Bank
1-800-238-8681

AMEN!!

Thanks for the information on donations!

 

[4nana]

A heartbreatking tragedy indeed.

My heart goes out to all involved. I can't imagine the grief this family is going through and my prayers are with them at this very difficult time.

I know it wasn't the teen's fault, however, I can't imagine a 15yo being allowed to drive a van load of children around.

 

[hentob]

This story is beyond sad. I posted about it yesterday.

With that being said, I find it odd that the child behind the wheel was allowed to drive up to 7 other children at a time illegally. From various quotes, it seems like she did it often. Also, it was not an SUV, am I correct? That means that some children were never restrained in seatbelts. I wonder if the adoptive mother knew this?

Regardless, it is just about the saddest story I have read in awhile

 

[hentob]

I dont undertsand why the let the 15yo drive all of the kids around. I know it was not her fault. But she should not of been driving in the first place

This is what I am thinking. Imagine the poor mother right now. The "what ifs" that are going through her head

 

[Sylvester McBean]

even if she wasn't illegally driving on just her permit and the children were strapped in tight, nothing could have saved them. the semi rammed them from behind at full speed and crushed them into the back of that bus. no one could have survived that. I can't imagine the family's pain they're dealing with.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

A very sad story--but what if the kids had to wait for mom to pick them up instead. That 5 minutes could have saved their life. While an adult in the car wouldn't have prevented the accident from happening--that extra minute for that extra passenger to get in...you just never know if she would have been at that right place at the wrong time to be killed.

A very sad tragedy.

 

[Magickndm]

even if she wasn't illegally driving on just her permit and the children were strapped in tight, nothing could have saved them. the semi rammed them from behind at full speed and crushed them into the back of that bus. no one could have survived that. I can't imagine the family's pain they're dealing with.

Exactly. I hope that poor mom is not doing any "what if's". It's the last thing she needs to deal with.
Was it the best idea to let a 15 year old drive? Probably not, but this was in a very rural area and I'm not sure how far they were going. I know it was to a church function though.

 

[hentob]

Was it the best idea to let a 15 year old drive? Probably not, but this was in a very rural area ......

On a VERY dangerous road--Four other fatal accidents have happened on this road in five years

 

[disfanatiks]

Exactly. I hope that poor mom is not doing any "what if's". It's the last thing she needs to deal with.
Was it the best idea to let a 15 year old drive? Probably not, but this was in a very rural area and I'm not sure how far they were going. I know it was to a church function though.

I was going to post that as well. While incorrect for her to be driving this was Union County (Lake Butler). Extremely rural and probably occurs much more than in a city. The population is 2,000. Problem is SR 121 and semi's flying through there. Hopefully, if any good comes of this it will slow the semi's and others down on that road.

We live in Jacksonville and my DD 15 really has not started to drive even though she has her permit. Too much traffic here.

The only thing I thought is that if a more experienced driver had been behind the wheel then maybe would have seen the semi coming and pulled off the road. However, from all indications there was no warning prior to impact.

Magic - Lots of news coverage for us as well. Tragic. Yesterday I all I could think about was this sadness.

 

[frndshpcptn]

"Was it the best idea to let a 15 year old drive? Probably not, but this was in a very rural area and I'm not sure how far they were going. I know it was to a church function though."

Actually, I think she was picking them up from school - and she did that often. While this accient was certianly not her fault - and this is tragic - I can't belive how little is mentioned that an unliscened driver is constantly in charge of driving around related and un-related minors.