A 16-year-old boy died in a most unusual and horrific way while traveling to a Sweet 16 party on a party bus yesterday. The visual is terrible, so be warned. The teen had stuck his head out of the emergency hatch in the ceiling of the bus just as the vehicle approached an overpass as the bus crossed the George Washington Bridge from New York to New Jersey. You can imagine the rest, but hopefully your mind has stopped before you finish that thought. No way is a good way for a child to die, but this is especially awful because of all the "if onlys" involved here.
If only the kids hadn't been dancing, making the temperature on the bus hot.
If only the security guard who was on the bus and had been telling the kids to stop playing with the hatches hadn't left his seat at that exact minute to tell the driver to adjust the temperature of the bus.
If only the bus wasn't approaching the exact spot of the overpass at the time.
If only the hatch wouldn't open.
If only the double-decker bus hadn't been too hot.
If only Daniel Fernandez hadn't tried to open the hatch.
If only ... it's what we always say when anything horrible happens that seems to have no explanation, purpose or meaning and we desperately seek answers when there aren't any. Even though the bus company says it's going to launch an "internal investigation" to cover their bases, it doesn't seem like anyone is to blame. Just one of those things, kids being kids, and sometimes the price to pay for that is anything but fair.
Image via Susan NYC/Flickr
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Comments 77
@Jafe, totally agree :(
What a horrible thing for everyone involved to be going through. Even though it was not the boy's smartest move ever it doesnt mean he was a terrible child that deserved to die. He made a rash heat of the moment decision that got him killed and thats heart breaking!
My super-straightlaced, common-sense 15 y/o daughter even scares herself sometimes. She's aware that she knows better, has witnessed stupid teen behavior, and is shocked to see her own behavior sometimes in spite of all the safety knowledge she believes in. Kids in adult bodies empowered by hormone-fueled egos. The most dangerous combo ever.
That said, I don't believe in accidents. It's all about choices; cause and effect. Most times it turns out OK, sometimes it... doesn't. Condolences to the family and friends who are surely scarred by this.
Will wait to see if the parents sue due to negligence - the attendant was out of his seat and this allowed the "child" to open the hatch. 16 year olds are, by law, entrusted w/the driving of a vehicle and can make the decision to end a life growing inside of them. They should be held responsible for their actions.
It's just like the morons who try to steal copper from electrical substations that have NO TRESPASSING and HIGH VOLTAGE signs all over them. You were warned.
My God,some people just aren't normal, feeling,caring souls & very calus to the bone. A young man is dead. don't you understand? My heart goes out to his family & friends. The fact that he made ,a dumb mistake, should never come into play here. HAVE A HEART PEOPLE.
Obviously none of you ever did anything stupid when you were a teen. I know I did. And I know my teen does stupid stuff. Luckily, none of it ever got somebody killed.
Teens are irrational & only think of themselves. They notoriously make bad decisions & they all want instant gratification.
Such a shame the boy had to die.