The following is a release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office regarding last night’s incident:
“On Tuesday (1-6-15) at approximately 5:18 pm, Lakewood Police were dispatched to the intersection of Clifton Avenue and Carey Street for a report of a pedestrian struck. Upon their arrival they found a nine (9) year old Lakewood boy had been struck. Hatzolah EMS transported the unconscious child to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he was treated for various injuries including head injuries.
The subsequent preliminary investigation by the Lakewood Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office indicates that a School Bus was turning from Carey St, southbound onto Clifton Ave. The bus stopped with its’ warning stop lights activated as students disembarked. As the 9 year old boy left the bus and began to cross the street, he was struck by a 2004 Nissan Sentra traveling northbound on Clifton Ave and dragged through the intersection approximately 80 feet.”
The driver of the Nissan Sentra was charged with Reckless Driving and Failure to Stop for a School Bus. He consented to a blood draw which was conducted at Kimball Medical Center. The investigation continues to ascertain if additional charges are warranted.
[TLS]
We rush everywhere. Tragedy is the inevitable result.
Any update on the child’s condition? Praying for a full & speedy recovery.
I like the way in the first article it said he couldnt stop. 60 feet? That guy was speeding. Whether he was frum or not- I dont know– but he shoudl be charged.
The boy shoudl have a refuah shleaima
Is it called Kimball Medical
center again?
@Moshe, statements like that say “this is part of life and can be expected”. There is NO excuse for this, this guy should not be justified by any means. If you can’t drive responsibly, don’t drive.
May this innocent child fully recover. I often see drivers pass a school bus with blinking lights. Anything not to have to stop.
From the wording it sounds that the bus driver stopped mid-turn at an angle. If that’s the case, it may be that it’s not considered passing a school bus, as the driver is passing perpendicular to bus. In addition, the driver may have not been able to see lights at an angle. This is an unsafe practice of school bus drivers that should be stopped.
The drivers stop at an angle at times as a safety precaution to give people a personal message not to pass, since they are pretty blocking the whole road.
Refuah shelimah.
Slow down, put the phone down, pay attention. When driving thru any school zone, residential area, parks, shopping centers. Slow down, pay attention-don’t pass on the right!
Yes yes yes. True. True. 100%.
Bus drivers also have to be more aware. It’s not about who’s fault it is.
It’s about getting home the children safely. If there are crazed rushed drivers- it’s terrible! But the drivers have to spend a little more time by bus stops before and after a stop.
I’ve seen lots of times in recent days and weeks where bus drivers, while the bus is moving the red lights are flashing and when the child is 5 feet away from the curb- they are half a block away already.
Bus drivers are also in rushes sometimes. I don’t blame them. It’s been a long day. But ….
@ Chacham,
You can see the lights at that angle, especially after dark the red lights reflect off the surrounding area. No matter, by now people should be aware enough to at least approach with caution if there is a school bus stopped in the road during after school hours.
i hope he recovers. Remember when this buses lights are on your supposed to stop in a circle area around it so front, rear and sides are supposed to be car free
I’m reading all the comments, how everybody immediately assumes that the driver is at fault. It just so happens that I know someone who witnessed the accident and he said the driver braked in time but skidded those 60 feet. If you remember, there was a snowstorm yesterday. But either way, if my friend is right or wrong, what gives you readers the right to assume who’s at fault? The only thing a Jew is allowed to say when such a thing happens is that everything happens for a reason and it isn’t our job to judge or blame the people involved. My heart goes out to the boy and his family and may he have a refuah shelaima b’mehaira.
@dontjudge. Yes, everything happens for a reason. Just so happens the reason this innocent young child had to endure being drug 80 feet underneath a car is because the drive was doing something wrong. As a Catholic we say admit you made a mistake and then ask for forgiveness not keep making excuses until we find one that works. Yes it was snowing out which means the driver should’ve been driving SLOWER than normal. The fact that he slid 60 feet like your “friend” said he did attests to the fact that at least he was driving fast enough past a school bus w flashing lights on ice filled roads to slide 60 feet. One also could assume that under normal breaking conditions if one were paying attention he should have been able to control a slide in said conditions. But who am I right. The police did their jobs and found fault in the driver. So instead of making excuses for him lets acknowledge that he messed up and rectify the problem instead of making excuses for him. Boom.
Holy smokes, I agree
@holy smokes It can be that you’re right, and I’m sure the right thing for the driver to do would be to admit he was wrong and ask forgiveness. My point was that other people should not decide for themselves the circumstances, and we definitely can’t rely on a police report to condemn someone (being that we all know the police have made their share of mistakes… Based on my limited knowledge of Catholicism I would think only the pope is infallible.) In any case, if I’m not mistaken, you need a court of law to condemn someone.
Id assume. I am not God so I would never speak for him/her. As not to offend anyone.