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Driver arrested after deadly Tennessee school bus crash | Driver arrested after deadly Tennessee school bus crash |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Police in Tennessee have arrested the driver of a school bus that crashed on Monday, killing at least five children and seriously hurting several more. | Police in Tennessee have arrested the driver of a school bus that crashed on Monday, killing at least five children and seriously hurting several more. |
Chattanooga Police charged 24-year-old Johnthony Walker overnight with five counts of vehicular homicide, as well as reckless driving and endangerment. | Chattanooga Police charged 24-year-old Johnthony Walker overnight with five counts of vehicular homicide, as well as reckless driving and endangerment. |
There were 37 children on board when the bus swerved off the road, striking a tree and a utility pole. | There were 37 children on board when the bus swerved off the road, striking a tree and a utility pole. |
Federal officials have arrived in Tennessee to assist the investigation. | Federal officials have arrived in Tennessee to assist the investigation. |
On Monday evening police said that five children had died and more than 20 had been injured. | On Monday evening police said that five children had died and more than 20 had been injured. |
Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston said that a sixth child had later died in hospital, but that could not be immediately confirmed. | Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston said that a sixth child had later died in hospital, but that could not be immediately confirmed. |
A police affidavit posted on Chattanooga station WTVC says that Mr Walker was driving well above the 30mph (48km/h) speed limit when the crash occurred. No other vehicle was involved. | |
Emergency crews took nearly two hours to get all the children off the bus. Many lay bleeding on stretchers, while others walked away stunned and in shock with their parents. | |
School officials quoted by the Chattanooga Times Free Press said that 12 children remained hospitalised on Tuesday, with six in intensive care. | |
Roads at the time "appeared to be clear and dry", officials said at a Monday afternoon press conference. | Roads at the time "appeared to be clear and dry", officials said at a Monday afternoon press conference. |
They added that Mr Walker had been co-operating in the investigation, and that a warrant had been issued to remove the bus's black box, which records data about the vehicle's movement. | |
The parent of two children who were aboard the bus told ABC News on Tuesday morning that he had sometimes seen the driver going faster than he should be. | The parent of two children who were aboard the bus told ABC News on Tuesday morning that he had sometimes seen the driver going faster than he should be. |
"There has been times where I've seen him going a little faster than he probably should be going," Craig Harris told the programme, adding that his two children are in shock and pain but are getting better. | "There has been times where I've seen him going a little faster than he probably should be going," Craig Harris told the programme, adding that his two children are in shock and pain but are getting better. |
Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke said the "most unnatural thing in the world is for a parent to mourn the loss of a child". | |
"There are no words that can bring comfort to a mother or a father. So today, the city is praying for these families," he said. | |
The Woodmere Elementary School opened on Tuesday, with grief counsellors available to students, officials said. | |
Local blood banks have asked that people schedule appointments, as there have been long queues since Monday afternoon of people wishing to donate blood. | Local blood banks have asked that people schedule appointments, as there have been long queues since Monday afternoon of people wishing to donate blood. |
Mr Walker's bond has been set at $107,500 (£87,000) and he is due in court later this month, court records show. |
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