Teen hits head ,dies on party bus

[longnecker]

FORT LEE, N.J. (AP) – Police say a 16-year-old New Jersey boy was killed after he put his head out of an emergency hatch of a double-decker bus and his head hit the underside of an Interstate 95 overpass.
Port Authority police spokesman Al Della Fave told The Record newspaper the Sayreville boy was among 65 teenagers aboard the bus headed to a party in New Jersey. The bus was crossing the George Washington Bridge from New York when the accident occurred at the Fletcher Avenue overpass about 6:30 p.m. Friday. Police said the teenager was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Parents of teenagers on the bus said they were on their way to a Sweet 16 party in Garfield.
Designer Transportation, which operates the bus, expressed its "deepest heartfelt sympathy" for the boy's family.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...terstitialskip

[Bellicose]

Uh when an emergency exit is opened, is there not supposed to be an alarm that goes off?

[Joe Walther]

Uh when an emergency exit is opened, is there not supposed to be an alarm that goes off?

I’m not aware of any ordinances in New Jersey, or any other state for that matter, that mandate an audible alarm whenever an emergency exit is breached. The law only requires that emergency exits be easily accessible and clearly identified.

I suspect that most emergency exits for buildings serving the public sound audible alarms to notify security of breaches. Emergency exits on public conveyances must be clearly marked and most of them flash some sort of panel warning for the drivers.

As for buses and trains in motion, I fail to see what value they would provide. When the vehicles are in motion, the damage has likely already occurred by the time anyone could respond to an alarm.

In this case, supervising adults were onboard the bus. What were they doing? Plus an onboard security guard had warned the teens 4-times to leave the exit alone and WHY.

Under normal circumstances, longevity tends to follow a simple bell curve once people reach a certain level of perspective. Young children have no idea of what perspective even is; and, unless it happens to involve an exam question, teenagers rarely care.

Early to mid-teens are strapped with a double whammy of having a false sense of security caused by feelings of immortality. Death, even accidental death, is just a distant rumor to them.

This youngster’s family has suffered a tragedy that every loving parent fears above all others. Their child is dead and somehow they must find a way to put their lives back together. I wish them the best.

And, while I hope it does not happen, I guarantee you that the PI attorneys in the area are already scoping out the deep pocket locations just in case they receive a call.

[Bellicose]

Was not thinking about the if alarm sounds, the damage would already ge done by the time someone responds.

[Jessica]

Joe and Bellicose - good points. Sad, but true. By the time the alarm went off (if it did) the kid's head was halfway out of the hatch and the damage was done. It's not reasonable to think that a bus barreling down the highway can just come to a screeching halt the second an alarm sounds.

Adults being on board plus a security guard raises a lot of questions for me. I deal with teenagers every day, and if I had to warn a group of kids four times not to do something, I'd have to change my approach. Obviously, my warnings aren't working. You warn once. Maybe twice. After that, you take it to the next level, because it's clear that it has no effect. Pull the bus over, and ask that child's parents to meet you at the next exit to collect their kid. Clearly they're not mature enough to ride on a bus alone.

I don't know what kind of birthday party warrants an interstate double decker bus trip complete with security guard, and I'm also confused as to why a boy from New Jersey was on a bus coming from New York headed to a party in New Jersey. And, of course, hindsight judgments are always easier than those in the moment. At the end of the day, no matter who should have done what, a boy lost his life, a family lost a son, and a bunch of kids are traumatized from what they witnessed.

[Bellicose]

It was a Sweet Sixteen party, that's why the bus was warranted. Because th parents of the Birthday kid decided to throw an expensive part, and it probably had a heme. Which the Double Decker Bus probably fit into.

Whatever happened to jut renting a skating think, or something for your kids sweet 16? When did it turn into this xpensive gala crap?

[longnecker]

NY Teen Killed on Party Bus Mourned


NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City school says a wake is planned for a beloved student who died in a gruesome accident aboard a bus on its way to a Sweet 16 party in New Jersey.

Sixteen-year-old Daniel Fernandez was killed after he stuck his head out of the emergency hatch of the double-decker bus and hit the underside of an overpass. The accident followed warnings by a security guard on the bus who said he told the teen passengers repeatedly not to open the hatch.

The guard said the teenagers had been dancing and the bus had gotten uncomfortably hot. The accident happened as the bus crossed the George Washington Bridge.

Teachers, students and family are mourning Fernandez's death. St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens says a Monday wake is planned.
http://www.wmdt.com/story/19439400/n...ty-bus-mourned

[Panama Girl]

When did it turn into this xpensive gala crap?

You can thank MTV for that.

P.S. Would it be too much to ask that you significantly decrease the font in your sig? It's driving me nuts trying to read your responses without the thing barging into my field of vision.

[Bellicose]

Next time I get onto the computer I will take care of it, that s providing I remember to do it by then.

Nevermind, was able to take care of it on the iPad. Hope it's better.

[hockey]

Is it just me or....