|
Posted: 11:01 PM Feb 28, 2010
Family Pushing for Tougher School Bus Safety Laws
The family of 6-year-old Haven McCarthy is fighting for tougher penalties for drivers who don't stop for a school buses' flashing lights.
Reporter: Brooks JaroszEmail Address: brooks.jarosz@wsaz.com |
|
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The family of 6-year-old Haven McCarthy is fighting for tougher penalties for drivers who don't stop for a school buses' flashing lights.
Haven was killed in 2007 when a driver didn't put on the brakes.
"It's not the way life is supposed to go," Haven's dad Jacob McCarthy said. "Your kids are supposed to bury you, but unfortunately we had to bury her because of negligence and because there's no stiff punishments for what happened."
Since that devastating day, the family says they've witnessed people failing to stop for buses numerous times before and now they're trying again to do something about it.
"I'm to the point now that if I see a bus letting kids off I pull my car diagonal," Jacob McCarthy said. "I will block that side of traffic and my side of traffic when I'm driving just to make sure that there aren't any cars going to come up from behind me and if they do they're going to hit my car and not hit someone else."
"Haven's Law" could be on the West Virginia House floor Monday.
"They passed the 180 day bill for children to be in school, let's pass a bill that's going to keep them safe at the bus stop," Haven's grandmother Linda McCarthy Bailey said.
The law would slap a stiffer fine and jail time for anyone passing a bus when its flashing red lights are on.
A similar bill died last April in a Senate Committee where senators said simply time ran out.
Latest Comments
First off, my condolences go out to the family of Haven. As a school bus operator for 13 years, I would like to share a story with the rest of you. Back in the month of December 2009, while stopped on a narrow country roadway with my red lights activated, a motorist felt she was an exception to the laws and passed my bus from behind, running off the road going between the passenger side of my bus and a barn, nearly ripping off the front service door, and almost running over the two young children walking across in front of the bus in the early morning hours. Myself and the parents were in a total state of shock, and it took me a minute to comprehend just what happened. I feel all buses in the State of West Virginia should be equipped with external cameras in order to help the bus operator file criminal charges against these people who have no regard for public safety.
I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR LITTLE GIRL. THEY REALLY NEED TO PASS THESE TOUGH LAWS IN ALL THE TO STATES.THERE IS KNOW SINCE IN THIS AT ALL THESE ARE OUR KIDS THAT THESE FOOLS ARE KILLING. GOOD LUCK WITH GETTING YOUR BILL PASSED!!!!
I say it is a shame what has happend to all the kids that this has happened to. I say put cameras up on the outside of the bus. That will take pictures when someone runs a stopped bus. You know like when you run a red light in the big citys. My baby is 13 now and i still walk her across the road and stay with her til be is on the bus and the bus has pulled out. I have seen many times people run her stopped bus. The only thing that the bus driver can do is blow his horn. I have thought about taking my camrecorder out there my self. But I would get in some kind of trouble. I do think cameras on the outside of the bus will catch these people in to big of a rush to even slow down for school buses.I feel for the fam it breaks my heart to see any kid get hurt, cry . I love all babys and thats what she was a baby .God be with this and all other fam.... LETS PRAY FOR MORE HELP AND START WITH MORE CAMERAS HELP OUR BUS DRIVERS AND OUR BABYS
|
Popular Searches Powered by Local.com |
- Reprimand Rangel, House committee investigators say
- BP promises Gulf help 'for years'
- 'Daddy's in heaven': The first victims
- Grim milestone for U.S. in Afghan war
- Babies' accused killer was 'secretive'
- WikiLeaks founder fires back at Gates
- Ex-CIA head: WikiLeaks logs a 'tragedy'
- Opinion: Arizona can win on immigration
- YouTube wants your 15 minutes of fame
- 'American Idol': Implosion or genius?
- WikiLeaks head to Gates: 'Disappointed'
- Several people injured in Massachusetts explosion
- New BP boss discusses long-term Gulf recovery
- Third blaze ignites in CA wildfires
- Blast destroys Los Angeles welding shop
- YouTube wants your 15 minutes of fame
- NOAA Confirms Record Breaking Hailstone in South Dakota
- Two New Orleans police officers indicted in 2005 beating death
- Racing team owner Roush's plane cartwheeled, NTSB says
- New York AG: Insurance firms defrauded military families of millions
- Cape Town's 'Ghetto Ballerina' gets lift
- Russian army fights wildfires
- Mexican drug lord killed
- Tokyo's "oldest man" may have been dead for decades
- London saddles up and rides
- July worst month for U.S. in Afghanistan
- Daughters: Alleged baby killer was secretive
- Kenya's Prime Minister likely won't commit troops to AU force
- Man clears land mines he laid
- Bomb kills soldiers in India
- Indictment: Cop lied in murder probe
- Women among 15 executed by gunmen in Mexico
- New Orleans officers indicted in beating death
- 'Dead' woman may be living in Vegas
- AG: Firms defrauded military families of millions
- Mexican drug lord killed in raid, officials say
- Painting stolen by Nazi now on display
- Mom is DUI, teen tells 911 from car
- Warrants issued for 3 U.S. soldiers
- Ex-teacher charged in child porn case
- Meet the critters inside your mattress
- Lou Gehrig's victim: Kill me for my organs
- Hoarding called a public health issue
- Calcium supplements may boost heart attack risk
- Clone farm goal: Disease-resistant animals
- Alcohol may fight rheumatoid arthritis
- Cell phones save lives in Rwanda
- Hands-only CPR equally effective
- Dispersant concerns remain
- Government has your baby's DNA
- Joe Posnanski: A boulevard called Chagrin
- FanHouse: LeBron's Vegas story spiked by ESPN.com
- Tom Verducci: Pitching expert thinks Strasburg is headed for trouble
- Ravens lose starting corner Foxworth for season
- D-backs send Jackson to ChiSox
- Haynesworth fails 2nd straight conditioning test
- The latest MLB trade deadline rumors
- Redskins ink No. 4 pick Williams to $60M contract
- Pitino aide says coach never suggested abortion
- FanHouse: Wright's death details start to emerge
- Actress Daryl Hannah Expected to be Tried Soon in W.Va.
- NEW INFO: KDMC Laying Off Employees
- Ribfest Moves to South Charleston and Will Include Car Show and Concert
- NEW INFO: Disturbance Leads to Gunfire, Two in Custody
- Fatal Accident in Eastern Kentucky
- Search Continues for Man Accused of Clendenin Stabbing
- Accident Causes Problems on I-77, Southbound Reopen
- Miner Killed in Accident at Northern W.Va. Mine; Name Released
- Stranger Foots Medical Bill for Dog Shot by Arrow
- Fire Destroys Mobile Home
- NEW INFO: KDMC Laying Off Employees
510 Comments - NEW INFO: Thomas Wilcox Sentenced to Life Without Mercy for Wife's Death
478 Comments - UPDATE: Officers Accused of Beating Another Officer; Report Released
89 Comments - Huntington Shooting Victim Dies; Name Released
76 Comments - UPDATE: Mallo Sentenced for Murder of Elderly Neighbor
44 Comments - UPDATE: Man Facing Charges in Connection with Charleston Shooting
25 Comments
![]() |
| PHONE IN YOUR YELLS TO: 1-866-616-5354 |
![]() |
WSAZObits.com Obituary listings from across the region |
Locations in Huntington and Charleston. Visit us on the web and save an additional $250.00. Best prices guaranteed! |
|
![]() |
Healthy Connections Find a local health professional |
| Healthy Tri-State Cabell Huntington Hospital and the Huntington YMCA are helping you to live a healthier lifestyle |
|
![]() |
Start here for all things home improvement |
| SOMC Very good things are happening here |
|
![]() |
Text markstips to 75324 to receive monthly landscaping tips from Mark Springer @ Lavalette Nursery. |
Start here for all things home improvement |






