The driver survived because drivers have seat belts. Students don't in that state. A bus company manager was interviewed and asked why they don't have seat belts. They said it was too expensive, as much as $6,000.00 per bus. Sounds cheap to me...
The really sad part is that the accident was caused by the bad driving skills of a fellow student who was supposed to be following the bus to the event, but for some reason decided to try to pass and cut them off.
Back in the dark ages when I was in High School, I never got to ride in the bus because my parents believed it was too dangerous because of the exhaust fumes (asthma) and the lack of seat belts. I resented being kept from a social even, but I am still here to complain.
The NHTSA says that every year about 8,000 children are injured in bus crashes and nine die. These states, California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey and New York, require seat belts in school busses. Other states have belt rules in the works.
So sad.
