At 7:00 this morning, when kids are out near the ends of their driveways, waiting on the bus, one of the kids near where I live got hit by a semi.
I don't know a whole lot.
I know that there's no curbs.
I know that there's no sidewalks.
I know that there's a 45mph speed limit in front of my house.
I know that there's a whole lot of duplexes and other apartments across the road from me.
I know that a lot of kids live over there.
I know that there's no sign warning drivers of a bus stop.
I know that the big rig driver was eastbound, and likely had the sun in his or her eyes.
I know that the driver didn't stop.
I know that the highway patrol caught the driver.
I don't know if the kid survived. I don't know if it was a boy or a girl. I don't know if it was the little boy my kids are fairly well acquainted with--my neighbors' grandson. I'm waiting for further information.
This day sucks.
Update: Highway Patrol says that the child was an eight year old girl. She didn't make it.
19 minutes ago
While filling my pickup a few years ago, I heard the screech of locked brakes, a dull thump, and looked up to a see pieces of trim scattering down the pavement. I thought it was just another fender bender, until I saw the reaction of a family that left the house near the accident.
ReplyDeleteAn 11 year old boy, who had ignored his mother's demand to not go to the store, was attempting to run back across the street, and doing so by running between cars stopped in the left turn lane.
People gathered around the boy almost immediately to assist, emergency vehicles were heard within the first minute, and I left after filling my pickup. There was nothing I could do but wonder if the boy would live.
The boy lived, although he spent a long time recovering in the hospital. The entire incident boiled down to an error in his judgement, which could have ended his life. Still, the sickening thud weighed on my mind for a long time, and still wonder how it affected the man that was simply driving home from work.
This morning's tragedy was a little girl waiting on a bus, near the road, not in it. Eight years old. She didn't make it.
DeleteSo sorry to hear that. Thoughts and prayers for a life ended way too soon!
ReplyDeleteSo many fail points that intersected to create a tragedy. I feel for the little girl's momma.
DeleteAnd I squeezed the breath out of both my kids when I picked them up from school. My little girl is almost eight.