Tennessee school bus driver Johnthony Walker allegedly asked children if they were “ready to die” before speeding around a curve and crashing into a tree in a wreck that left five young children dead.
The crash took place on Monday in Chattanooga, with the school bus crashing into a tree and overturning. In the wake of the tragic accident, much of the blame has been centered on the 24-year-old driver who has reportedly been the subject of many complaints before Monday’s fatal crash.
The mother of one of the crash’s victims is now claiming that Johnthony Walker was particularly reckless before Monday’s crash.
“My daughter said right before the bus flipped that he was speeding around the curve and asked them ‘Are y’all ready to die,’” Jasmine Mateen, whose 6-year-old daughter was killed, told CBS News .
Mateen said she complained on a number of occasions about Walker’s driving, but she said school officials did nothing. Other parents said children often complained about his speeding.
Police in Chattanooga have already taken action following the fatal crash, charging Johnthony Walker with five counts of vehicular homicide as well as reckless endangerment. Authorities said he was driving well above the 30 miles-per-hour speed limit when the bus crash occurred.
“Based on witness statements and physical evidence, the defendant was driving the school bus at a high rate of speed, well above the posted speed limit of 30 mph,” police said in the arrest affidavit. “Mr. Walker lost control of the bus and swerved off of the roadway to the right, striking an elevated driveway and mailbox, swerved to the left and began to overturn, striking a telephone pole and a tree.”
Johnthony Walker, 24, charged w/ 5 counts vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment & reckless driving in Talley Rd school bus crash. pic.twitter.com/9ZTIpXUZNl
— Chattanooga Police (@ChattanoogaPD) November 22, 2016
There were other allegations that Johnthony Walker was driving recklessly before the fatal bus crash. Another student told WDEF-TV that Walker “wasn’t paying attention and was going real fast.”
But the driver’s mother is offering another side to the story. Gwenevere Cook told CNN that her son tried to rescue children after the bus overturned, pulling some of them to safety.
“He was trying to get (the children) off the bus — all the bodies were limp,” Cook said. “There was blood everywhere.”
Cook said that her son contacted her in the moments after the crash as well
“‘Mama, I love you. I have been in a drastic accident,’” Gwenevere Cook said her son told her. “He texted me minutes later saying the kids are dead.”
School bus driver faces charges after at least 6 children were killed in a Chattanooga bus crash, officials say. https://t.co/ykRl4fTk6Z
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 22, 2016
Although Johnthony Walker has come under fire for his allegedly reckless driving that caused the crash, his mother said that he is a responsible young man with a child of his own.
“My heart of love is going out for all that was in harm’s way of God’s will,” she said (via CBS News ). “Sending out mine and our condolences to every family that God touched yesterday in this horrible accident. And I am asking for compassion also for my son.”
Police noted that Walker has no criminal record. He was tested for drugs and alcohol, but authorities said the results are still pending. His employer, Durham School Services, said they are working with police on the investigation but could not confirm reports of past complaints against Walker.
It’s not entirely clear if more students could be in danger two days after the Tennessee bus crash. CBS News reported that a total of 12 students remained at the Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga on Tuesday night. Six of those were listed in critical condition.
Johnthony Walker has been taken into custody following the fatal bus crash and jailed on $107,500 bail. He is scheduled to make a court appearance on November 29.
[Featured Image by artolympic/iStock]
