HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - Four students at a Lee High School were killed one year ago Tuesday when their bus crashed off of a freeway overpass. Now the community is taking time out to remember and mourn.
It was a sunny, but bitterly cold morning on Nov. 20, 2006, as Bus #5307 departed Lee High, heading to the Center for Technology. There were 43 students and a driver on board when the bus climbed onto Interstate 565, heading for the Memorial Parkway exit.
What happened next would change their lives forever. Investigators said the bus driver swerved to avoid a passing car, sending the bus 40 feet off the overpass, onto Church Street below.
The call went out on the police scanner, saying, "Send everything you've got to Church Street, and God help us." Three students were pronounced dead at the scene, and the fourth died the next day. Two dozen others were badly hurt and rushed to local hospitals.
There was no sad music or long speeches at Lee High on the anniversary of the crash. A simple ceremony was held on the school grounds, where one by one, each of the girls' names was called, followed by the release of a balloon and a moment of silence.
"It has been a difficult year, because I felt that everyone is trying to move forward, but there is no way that we can leave them behind," said Lee High senior Tiffany Buckner.
Only a handful of students attended the ceremony. Others watched by closed circuit television from their classrooms, where counselors and teachers could offer support.
"This is a day not to rejoice because this is a loss, but a day to take into consideration what can happen in your life," said Lee High senior Sakeya Hobbs.
A large painting will be displayed in the cafeteria. Not only does it bear the names of those who died in the crash, but it also has signatures from some of the survivors. Also, a small plaque was displayed on the podium with the simple phase "In Remembrance".
"I feel like the day the bus crash happened," Buckner said. "In a way, it like all of us at Lee, we all died."
The administration wanted the day to be as normal as possible. And at 10 a.m., students boarded the bus to head to the Center for Technology. One year later, the students have perservered.
"We've overcome," said Lee High senior Jeremy William. "We've made it a whole year. And it was difficult a tough year. But we made it through. We got our lesson. Got promoted and we made it through."
Reporter: Violet Parker
Web Editor: Dana Franks
(Copyright 2007 by WAAY-TV. All Rights Reserved.)
