photo by Brent McDonald, News Channel 9
photo by Brent McDonald, News Channel 9
photo by Brent McDonald, News Channel 9
The school bus driver charged in a tragic crash on Monday that killed five children and critically injured five others had been working some long night shifts.
A co-worker said, "Johnthony works two jobs, one for Durham Services where the fatal bus accident occurred, and additionally he works as an associate at Amazon Fulfillment on night shift.
"One factor that led to the bus crash is that Johnthony was likely too fatigued/tired to drive because all Amazon associates have worked 55 hours a week on mandatory overtime throughout the month of November in preparation for the holiday season.
"We work 12-hour shifts at Amazon, so Johnthony definitely wasn't getting enough sleep to also safely drive a school bus on the same day. Although his driving was reckless, why did the school bus employer not prevent him from working 16 hours a day on two back-to-back jobs?"
Walker is charged with five counts of vehicular homicide as well as reckless endangerment and reckless driving.
Meanwhile, Chattanooga Police Sgt.
Austin Garrett said blood drawn from Walker just after the wreck has already been checked on an expedited basis by the TBI Crime Lab. He said it did not show any alcohol or drugs in his system.
Sgt. Garrett also said police have not been able to substantiate a published report that the driver told children on the bus just before the crash, "Are you ready to die?"
He said the wreck that Walker had in September was "minor."
Sgt. Garrett said children on the bus have not yet been questioned by investigators, but they will be.
The questioning, he said, will be by persons trained to interview children.
Also, federal investigators said Talley Road was not on the bus route. Officials said they did not know why Walker was on the windy road.
A specialist is being brought in to analyze video and audio from the bus and to examine speed and braking data from the bus.
The cameras and monitoring equipment were damaged in the crash when the bus was folded into a large tree.
Funeral arrangements for one of the victims, Zyanna Janal Harris, 10, will be announced by John P. Franklin Funeral Home.