This is awful....it happened around the corner from my place, and it's incredible. The exit where the bus accidentally left the interstate is a bit tricky and I guess the driver was unaware of where he was exactly.
There's 19 kids at Grady, and 6 are dead on the scene. It's incredibly bad.
It's not over.
Between the tragedy yesterday in Enterprise and this today.....I'm saying a prayer. These kids were doing the right things....life's not fair. I know that's no news, but this sort of thing sure does remind us of that fact.
Vikkyvik From United States, joined Jul 2003, 3764 posts, RR: 26 Reply 2, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 731 times:
Quoting DL021 (Thread starter): These kids were doing the right things....life's not fair. I know that's no news, but this sort of thing sure does remind us of that fact.
Heard about this on the radio on the way to work this morning. Just an awful story. I hope the rest of the kids pull through.
The spirit of Massachusetts is the spirit of America!
TedTAce From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 715 times:
I just looked the 'intersection' up on google earth and all I can say is "WOW". If you read the story VERY carefully you realize that having ONLY 6 people die is a genuine Miracle.
It's also amazing that the bus didn't fall onto another vehicle on I-75.
DL021 From United States, joined May 2004, 11073 posts, RR: 96 Reply 5, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 712 times:
Quoting JRadier (Reply 1): Title sounds a bit weird, like there are 6 dead and it just takes time until the rest follows
Sorry about that, but there are 19 people in the hospital and some of them have very serious (lifeflight to Trauma center type) injuries. The coach is in surgery right now along with several of his team. They've called in docs from the Emory/Grady system to help here. It's looking bad.
N231YE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 704 times:
Wow...A bus from a school south of Toledo, Ohio, traveling during the beginning of spring break, and on Interstate 75...made me think it was from my university for a moment.
Bezoar From United States, joined Nov 2001, 805 posts, RR: 13 Reply 7, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 695 times:
Quoting TedTAce (Reply 3): Sad, but it's obviously "God's will".
While I appreciate sarcasm, are you really wanting to hijack this thread? If you want to discuss theology of God's will vs. man's responsibility/accountability, I suggest taking it to another thread.
"There are none so blind as those who will not see."
TedTAce From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 688 times:
Quoting TedTAce (Reply 4): It's also amazing that the bus didn't fall onto another vehicle on I-75.
Looks like I was wrong about that:
From the Story above:
""It looked to me like a big slab of concrete falling down," said Danny Lloyd, 57, of Frostburg, Md. "I didn't recognize it was a bus. I think when I saw the thing coming, I think I closed my eyes and stepped on the gas."
The impact broke his windshield, pushed his truck into the concrete and wrecked the front bumper, Lloyd said. He was not injured."
Quoting Bezoar (Reply 7): are you really wanting to hijack this thread
Quoting Bezoar (Reply 7): If you want to discuss theology of God's will vs. man's responsibility/accountability, I suggest taking it to another thread.
If that was the object I would have. DL knows that I have an oposing view of these things then him. We know it, we resepct it, it's understood. I made my point for others to observe as respectfully as possible, and yet you choose to hijack the thread instead of sending me an IM.
AirCop From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 651 times:
Bluffton University: never heard of it. Take it they were bound for Florida to play some spring ball in a warm climate, guess it shows you can't take anything for granted. Got to feel for the parents..
AA777-200 From United States, joined Jul 1999, 314 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 645 times:
Yeah this is terrible. I live in Toledo and its been on the news all morning. Bluffton is about an hour or so south of here. Airtran is chartering a plane in here to take the families of the victims down to ATL. I just got a call from one of the FBOs on the field to work it. its to be here at 4:30. This is so awesome of FL to do something like this. Everyone just pray for the victims and familes of everyone involved and hope for the best.
Bagpiper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 570 times:
Quoting TedTAce (Reply 4): I just looked the 'intersection' up on google earth and all I can say is "WOW". If you read the story VERY carefully you realize that having ONLY 6 people die is a genuine Miracle.
It's also amazing that the bus didn't fall onto another vehicle on I-75.
Yeah; I live about 30 minutes from that exit, and while driving in the HOV lane, wonder for a split second where to go. Not a fun place, especially after just navigating the I-75/I-85 merge and separation crap.
I'm surprised there weren't more vehicles involved (besides the bus and pickup truck)... I guess traffic around 5:30am isn't too bad, but still!
Prayers for the families and friends of those who were killed or injured!
AirCop From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 560 times:
Quoting Bagpiper (Reply 14): I guess traffic around 5:30am isn't too bad, but still!
You be shocked at the amount of traffic in a big metro area at 5:30 a.m. I would hope that the bus driver wasn't over hours and tired. Again such a waste.
FriendlySkies From United States, joined Aug 2004, 3584 posts, RR: 7 Reply 16, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 555 times:
I saw this around 7:45 this morning...I always get on 75 North at Northside where the accident was, but hadn't heard anything...I get up to the bridge and everyone's turning around, so I hopped on 75 South to get around it. When I saw the bus I thought it was a flipped semi or something, and didn't think much of the massive amounts of firetrucks and cameramen along the side of the road.
I can't believe the driver didn't stop...I mean, RIP to him and the others who died, but damn, who comes off of a highway exit ramp that's perpendicular to the road and doesn't stop, driving a freakin BUS even...it's amazing things like this don't happen more often, we should be thankful for that...
DL021 From United States, joined May 2004, 11073 posts, RR: 96 Reply 17, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 533 times:
Both that HOV exit and the one next down where HOV exits for either further southbound or I-85 North are relatively confusing.
I can see how someone unfamiliar with the road could get confused. I wonder what the sleep status of the driver was, did he have enough the night before...was he sober.....was he awake? I don't know if he lived..
I don't know what can be done about these exits. They were designed to mitigate traffic slowups, and work fairly well. You can't prevent every accident. I am curious to learn the other factors in this accident.
DavestanKSAN From United States, joined Sep 2005, 1678 posts, RR: 20 Reply 19, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 522 times:
Really sad news. Hate to hear this along with the terrible news about the school in Alabama. RIP to those who died. Thoughts with them and their families. I'm praying that all on board will recover .
Dave
Yesterday we've sinned, today we move towards God. Touch the sky....love and respect...Safe Star!
Bagpiper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 510 times:
The driver was a fresh driver they had picked up about an hour earlier (around Dalton, GA is my guess), so I would think he would have had a nights sleep before he drove.
Also, it seems that he mistakenly exited the freeway - he meant to keep on going on I-75, but didn't realize that he was on an exit ramp. Thats what I've been gathering from the local Atlanta radio stations, who have held conferences with the Atlanta Police Department.
QFA380 From Australia, joined Jul 2005, 1779 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 466 times:
This is terrible news, 6 or more lives just thrown away....
I'm having a little bit of trouble understanding where exactly this hapened but from what I can gather, it happened here. The bus came up the ramp, didn't stop, and plowed over the edge. Is that right?
TedTAce From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 442 times:
Quoting QFA380 (Reply 21): The bus came up the ramp, didn't stop, and plowed over the edge. Is that right?
More or less
The thing to bear in mind is that there is a ramp just like it a few miles 'up' the road that does keep you going on the interstate. It's VERY confusing and almost got me in trouble when I drove it almost a month ago. If the driver 'lost track' of where he was (which appears to be the case) and thought he was on the ramp that continues the interstate he wouldn't have had a need to slow down or brake until he realized his mistake which was too late. If you google earth it; you look at it and realize it's design is a TOTAL recipie for disaster.
RJdxer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 432 times:
Quoting TedTAce (Reply 18): would place signs every 25-50 feet (once you are on the exit) saying MUST STOP AHEAD.
Along with the rib pavement that alerts a sleepy driver that they are coming up on a stop or drifting off the road. Not to be funny but that must have llooked like something out of a movie to see that big bus come busting out of the overpass like that. I've been on 75 in Atlanta at that time of the morning and just the truck traffic is amazing. If only the one pickup was the only other vehicle involved then that truly is a miracle.
Falcon84 From United States, joined Sep 2004, 14857 posts, RR: 81 Reply 24, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 427 times:
Quoting AirCop (Reply 10): Bluffton University: never heard of it.
A small Mennonite-affilliated school in NW Ohio, south of Toledo. It's a very good school, from everything I've heard about it. It wasn't that far from where I went to college at Bowling Green.
My prayers to those who perished, their families, and everyone in the Bluffton community.
September11 From United States, joined May 2004, 3180 posts, RR: 26 Reply 25, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 396 times:
Ohio Governor Strickland issued statewide press release on this.
I read somewhere that most Ohio colleges has canceled Florida spring break trips because of the bus crash.
Airliners.net of the Future
26 N231YE: That sucks...at Bowling Green State University (where I am at), my roommate and the men's choir went down to Florida to do some singing. He was looki
27 DeltaGator: That's just an asinine kneejerk reaction if true. I hate to be harsh but why ruin someone else's spring break because of a tragic accident that had n
28 DeltaGator: But yet this is the first accident of its kind at this exit (Northside Drive) since it was put into place many years ago. I think we'll find the repo
29 QFA380: Thanks for that. I just wasn't too sure. That looks really bad....
30 DeltaGator: It's not too bad of an exit...if you know what you're doing and aren't tired. We have many other exits here in town that are far worse. The exit isn't
31 Piercey: Damn, I knew the driver and his wife. They were both nice and down to earth people. RIP you two.
33 September11: They are back home in Ohio - they flew on AirTran 737 to Toledo Ohio baseball team back home after crash
34 TedTAce: See: Penalizing others for the mistake of one peerson is stupid. That doesn't seem 'right' given:
35 DeltaGator: I didn't know he was a fresh driver though I do see the reply higher up now. That does put an interesting spin on things. One other thing was on foxne
36 TedTAce: I dunno. I would say that if the lights were visible from the bottom of the ramp it would be a deterent.
37 AirCop: Just because he just took over driving the bus doesn't mean he was "fresh". Only checking the log books and witness statements will answer that quest
38 J_Hallgren: And when it's at night and thus visibility is much less, this is more of a problem if you're unfamiliar with that exit...I doubt this would have happ
39 DeltaGator: Except that the ramp is never busy with traffic since that exit isn't really known for high HOV traffic since that is the only traffic allowed on it.
40 Bagpiper: Yeah I saw that on the local Fox channel (Fox5). They made it sound like it was just wrecks from people running red lights, being stupid, etc. I thin
41 TedTAce: A dissapointing update: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pa...EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1
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Great Job ATA
Really sad news. Hate to hear this along with the terrible news about the school in Alabama. RIP to those who died. Thoughts with them and their families. I'm praying that all on board will recover 
. 
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