NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Highway Patrol is urging motorists to exercise extra caution after two separate collisions involving children occurred less than a week apart, including one that left an 11-year-old boy dead.
The first crash occurred on Aug. 25, when an 11-year-old boy riding his bicycle to school was struck and killed by a dump truck near Kings Lane and Country Club Drive in Tullahoma. Six days later, a 10-year-old girl was hit by a pickup truck while standing near the edge of a driveway along Highway 48 South in Dickson County. State troopers say the second incident remains under investigation.
Troopers: expect children anywhere, especially near schools
Maj. Travis Plotzer of the Tennessee Highway Patrol emphasized the need for heightened awareness by drivers, particularly in school zones, neighborhoods and around buses.
"Always be alert when driving down the road, especially in and around school buses and schools. We know kids will be present there,"
Plotzer said children may not always be visible to drivers and that many are dependent on motorists and bus drivers for their safety. The warning follows additional video from neighboring Kentucky that shows how quickly an ordinary trip home from school can become dangerous.
In that Aug. 26 video recorded along Bardstown Road, a child steps off a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. A car continued past the bus and came within feet of the student; no injuries were reported. Kentucky deputies are still trying to identify the driver involved in that near-miss.
Details from the Tennessee incidents
| Date | Location | Victim | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 25 | Kings Lane & Country Club Drive, Tullahoma | 11-year-old boy (fatal) | Dump truck |
| Aug. 31 (six days later) | Highway 48 South, Dickson County | 10-year-old girl (injury condition unreported) | Dodge Ram (left front) |
According to a preliminary Tennessee Highway Patrol report, the Dickson County crash involved a Dodge Ram that struck the girl with its left front. The report said the child was standing just beyond a slight hillcrest near the edge of a driveway. The driver was identified as a 63-year-old; investigators listed no charges in the preliminary report and said the probe remains ongoing.
How these incidents illustrate risks for children
Traffic safety experts and law enforcement point to several recurring risk factors in incidents involving children: reduced visibility near hills or driveways, distracted driving, and failures to stop for school buses. Troopers warn that children may suddenly enter the roadway from between parked cars or from behind landscaping and that younger children may not appreciate the full danger posed by passing vehicles.
To help keep students safe, the Tennessee Highway Patrol reiterated common-sense precautions drivers should follow at all times:
- Slow down in school zones and residential neighborhoods.
- Stop for school buses when lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended.
- Be especially cautious near driveways, hillcrests and bus stops where visibility is limited.
The recent Kentucky video and the two Tennessee crashes serve as reminders that even brief lapses in attention can have devastating consequences when children are involved. Investigations into the Tennessee collisions are ongoing, and troopers continue to urge the motoring public to drive defensively whenever children are likely to be present.
As investigators work to determine the full circumstances of the Tullahoma and Dickson County incidents, state and local authorities say families and drivers must remain vigilant during the school year to reduce the likelihood of further tragedies.
