Four years ago today, on Nov. 21, 2016, the Woodmore community lost six kids when their school bus crashed.
There were 37 passengers on the bus, 32 injured, and six deaths.
First responders and several local leaders that responded to the crash will forever be haunted by what they witnessed at the site that frightful day.
In the blink of an eye, six little ones were gone and now authorities had to deliver the news to the parents, how does one prepare for such a tragedy? There is something very unnatural when a parent loses a child.
Weeks after the crash I drove up and down Talley Road and sadly it seemed that drivers had already forgotten about what had happened.
Cars were still speeding, tailgating school buses and the only thing that I noticed that had changed was the big flashing speed limit sign that had been placed close to the crash site.
I think about the conversations that the kids were having before their bus crashed. The laughter, the joy of ending a long school day, the parents that were waiting for their kids to come home, but that did not happen and all the innocence that they once knew was forever gone.
Most of us can not imagine a life without our kids. Unfortunately, it is reality for so many moms and dads, families that will never be the same.
Nothing any of us can do will bring those little ones back, but we can keep them in our hearts and remember their lives.
I do not believe that God has anything to do with the bad things that happen in the world. And we should never put his name on anything bad that happens. This was never his plan for any of us to die, but he has to allow it for now. It was an accident that was caused by the carelessness of the driver.
We all make a choice to do or not to do things, good or bad, and our choices will effect others in some way. We have a responsibility to do the best that we can to protect our little ones and when we see the big yellow school bus please take the time to think about the kids on the bus and the parents waiting at home for their arrival and I ask that we all do our best to be responsible drivers.
Rest In Peace little ones.
Cor'Dayja Jones, 9
Zyanna Harris, 10
Zoie Nash, 9
Zyaira Mateen, 6
D'Myunn Brown 6
Keonte Wilson 8
Forever In Our Hearts.
Tonya McBryar