CHATTANOOGA MOURNS AND REMEMBERS THE LOSS OF FIVE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL BUS CRASH

Tuesday night a city mourned the loss of five school children and others that were injured in a fatal school bus crash Monday. The victims, four girls and one boy, were remembered in a ceremony conducted at Chattanooga’s New Monumental Baptist Church as dozens of balloons were released into the sky amid a fanfare of cheers and hand claps. It was a sharp contrast to the somber tone after Monday. 37 students were onboard the school bus from Woodmore Elementary School when it crashed. Police confirmed the death of five children on the bus, which landed on it’s side after striking a utility pole and tree. 23 children were taken to Erlanger Hospital. Latest reports list 12 children remain hospitalized. Six of the children are in critical condition while the other six are stable. The driver of the bus, 24-year-old Johnthony Walker, is charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, reckless driving and reckless endangerment. Authorities say that other charges could be pending. It has also been noted that Walker had previous accidents while driving a school bus and his alleged reckless driving had been reported. CBS News reported that just before the crash, the children who were able to speak about the incident, told their parents that Walker asked them, if they were “ready to die.” Picture courtesy of WSMV.