Mom urges bus safety after son hit by car in Calamus

Sep 26, 2024 at 11:31 PM

Vigilance on the Road: Protecting Our Children's Safety

In a harrowing incident, a 9-year-old boy from Calamus, Iowa, was struck by a car while attempting to board his school bus. The incident has sparked a call for greater awareness and action to ensure the safety of children on the roads, particularly around school buses. The family's story serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of driver vigilance and the need for comprehensive safety measures to protect our most vulnerable road users.

Safeguarding Our Children's Commute: A Pressing Concern

The Tragic Incident

On a seemingly ordinary Monday morning, Noah James-Schonlan, a 9-year-old student, was struck by a car while crossing the highway to board his school bus. The incident occurred despite the bus having its warning lights activated and the stop sign deployed, indicating that the driver of the vehicle, a 15-year-old, had failed to heed the safety signals and stop for the bus.

Noah's mother, Mickala James, recounted the harrowing experience, stating, "I didn't see the car. It was just coming and driving, and I was just doing my thing. The bus stopped, and it had the stop sign out, and I just walked across and the car hit me, you know, over the windshield." The impact left Noah with injuries to his head, back, shoulder, and leg, requiring him to be airlifted to the University of Iowa for treatment.

Fortunately, Noah's injuries were not life-threatening, but the incident has left a lasting impact on the family. Mickala James expressed her gratitude that her son survived, but also her deep concern for the lack of driver awareness and the potential for a far more tragic outcome. "I just want people to pay attention. Thank God, my son made it out okay, thank God. But that could not have been the case, and it's very serious, there's no excuse that big school bus with flashing lights and the stop sign down was missed, and we could have lost him."

The Lasting Impact

The traumatic experience has taken a toll on Noah, both physically and emotionally. Mickala James described the aftermath, saying, "One minute he's smiling and making jokes, the next minute he's Mom, why did she have to hit me? Why didn't she stop? You know, when he's sleeping and he's being jolted awake. I could only imagine what those memories are in his head, and it's going to be a long process."

The incident has also prompted the family to advocate for changes in school bus procedures, particularly for buses that pick up children along busy highways. Mickala James is pushing for buses to pick up students from safer locations, such as driveways, to avoid any future incidents. "The school bus driver has she is going to start pulling into our drive. Noah will not step foot in that highway again," she said.

However, the family's concerns extend beyond their own situation. Mickala James also highlighted the need to address the broader issue of school bus safety, stating, "High school bus is still stopping in the highway. That is something else I would like to get changed. I don't believe that the size of the student mattered much if a big school bus was not seen."

The Broader Implications

The incident in Calamus is not an isolated case. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2000-2021, there were 53 fatalities in crashes that involved a driver illegally passing a stopped school bus, an average of 2.4 fatalities a year.

This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for increased awareness and action to address the issue of school bus safety. Drivers must be held accountable for their actions, and comprehensive measures must be implemented to protect children as they commute to and from school.

The Calamus incident serves as a wake-up call for communities across the country. It highlights the importance of driver education, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and the implementation of innovative safety technologies to prevent such tragedies from occurring. By working together, we can ensure that our children's journeys to and from school are safe and secure, allowing them to focus on their education and personal growth without the fear of harm.