CHATTANOOGA — As the memorial for six children killed in a school bus accident continues to grow, so do the number of questions about what caused the terrible accident.
“I think it’s time for us to step back. Local school boards — all of us. Local school boards, the state and look at the whole school bus process,” said Governor Bill Haslam, who stopped by Woodmore Elementary Wednesday morning.
He vowed to launch a full investigation into how school bus services run across the state.
On Monday, dozens of students were rushed to the hospital after the school the were in flipped over and slammed into a tree. As of Wednesday evening, 12 are still recovering in the hospital. Six were killed, the latest death happening Wednesday, two days after the crash.
The driver, Johnthony Walker, was going to fast when the accident happened, police said. He did not have substances in his system either.
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Hamilton County School officials have stayed tight-lipped about what they may know about the driver.
Jasmine Mateen, who’s daughter died in the crash, said she wrote a letter to the school, claiming Walker was drinking on the job and driving recklessly.
“I’ve been calling up to the school since school started.”
The principal of the school wouldn’t say if they were alerted to parents’ concerns and when we tried to ask more questions, they ended the news conference.
NTSB Chairman Christopher Hard is hoping footage from the bus’ three cameras will be able to answer other questions as well.
“Were the students seated or were they all over the place? How fast was it going?”
Hart said his team will look deep into Durham School Services’ past and hopefully address concerns from the community.
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