Posted By: hthrhthrthrtht On: 1/28/2012

Title: Learned

Well there is one thing I learned from all this.
If you accidentally knock someone down in the ghetto dont stick around, cause you will likely get beaten or lynched, and if the police turn up they will arrest you for your own safety (like yeah right). Either way you are screwed, all because someone walked into your vehicle, instead of looking both ways before crossing. NOTE - it does not matter if someone illegally stopped to let you cross, always look both ways, even on a Pedestrian Crossing.

Posted By: driversed On: 1/28/2012

Title: So

Looking at a photo on another site which shows the aftermath and taped off area of the accident, the road in question has absolutely no lines at all. Therefore it could barely be considered a road, and most definitely as there were no lines in the middle at all, it is 100% legal to overtake. It looks like it was possibly just paved, but either way without solid lines in the middle, one can overtake unless they were to post signs that say otherwise.
...
Additionally and perhaps even more important, there was a side road which looks like it was where the car stopped, as the body of the diseased was what looks to be approx 10 feet from the corner. As the body was likely dragged a little, that could put the car in question right beside the side road, or even just before it. The car allegedly stopping right before or beside a side road could have caused the bus driver to think the car was turning, as so many do so in Nassau and without using turning signals.
..
Adding to that, there is a lamp pole just a couple feet from the road, on the edge of the side road and right in the center of the sidewalk - this may have blocked the bus drivers view of anyone standing on the side road prior to crossing the road. Not to mention just after the side road there is a building that is in line of view with the lamp pole and there is just a narrow sidewalk there, meaning if anyone was standing on that side, its unlikely they would be seen. Well, if they were tall enough they would have, but a 4 year old child is very small and could easily be hidden by the height of a car. That leads to a question, what type of car was it, was it even a car, or was it an SUV? There is an SUV and a Car in the photo, both parked just opposite - not sure if these were involved.
..
Questions remain. Were they standing on the sidewalk prior to crossing the road? Or were they walking out of the side road? Or were they on the narrow sidewalk after the side road? And does the bus driver in question have a past history of traffic violations? Lastly, is there any more info on the car that stopped? Sometimes I notice people that stop to let others cross use their signals (in fact buses use them even though they are not turning). Could the car have had their signal on to turn? If so this also could have caused the bus driver to think they were taking to long to turn and it would have been within his legal rights to overtake. Remember that Jitneys are right hand drive vehicles, and there are many blind spots also.
..
Im not siding with anyone, but taking a look at it from another perspective, an investigative one. The police should look at all angles. Everyone who drives in Nassau obviously knows how bad Bus drivers in general drive ... but as mentioned before we cannot judge all by the actions of some.

Posted By: rergergergr On: 1/27/2012

Title: An every day thing in Nassau

Not getting killed, but close to it. Every single day kids run out in front of me. Every day they almost get knocked down by vehicles. And these kids are not even with their parents, most are just going home from school, or going to burger king or mac donalds .. although this was a totally different situation, when will the Bahamas wake up and do something about all these tiny little kids running all over the roads in and out of moving vehicles?? Seriously, if this were anywhere else more likely there would be a dozen kids a day being knocked down - so really Bahamian drivers dont seem to be a problem in this area, although for the most part Bahamian drivers do totally suck at driving, and yes Jitneys are crazy on the roads, and so are motorbike riders.

Posted By: Mother of a daughter On: 1/27/2012

Title: Everybody judging . . .

If a car slows down all of th sudden there must be a reason. I would advise all drivers to refrain from overtaking if necessary, most roads in nassau are too small and jam up for this. Most vehicular accidents are cause by overtaking. Had he not overtook that car, the child would be alive and in school right now. Now to the mother, I dont think she let the child walk across the road by herself . . if she did, she must be crazy. I think the child may have possibly ran out of a yard behind her mother unexpectedly and this tragedy unfolded. My God be with the family. Peace

Posted By: Aphauled On: 1/27/2012

Title: @ Truth Evance

I agree with you 100% all the ones pointing fingers OBVIOUSLY aren't parents or they are perfect and never made mistakes. I am a mother of a 7 year old Daughter and a 2 year old Son and i will PROUDLY admit i have made mistakes as a parent, which none has been fatal THANK GOD!!!! But this could have happened to anyone of us!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If any of you are parents how would you feel reading the horrible comments people are writing saying what a bad parent you are............ Come on Bahamians WAKE up we as a nation should be mourning together NOT pointing fingers SHAME SHAME SHAME. All we can do is pray and ask God to fogive these people for they know not what they do. RIP little girl, your heavenly Father will keep you safe from now on praying for the family of this little Angel.

Posted By: My 5 cents On: 1/27/2012

Title: @ Truth Evance

Well quite frankly the law enforcers are breaking the law and these are people the government put in place to carry out the law probably if they get up off their a**es and do what there country needs them to do and TOUGHEN UP ON THE LAW U WOULD SEE A DECREASE IN PLENTY THINGS. AND OVERTAKING IS NOT ILLEGAL AND THERE WAS NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IN THE ROAD PROBABLY IF THEY WEREN'T WORRYING ABOUT WHO WINNING ELECTIONS AND WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE ROAD REALLY NEEDS WE WOULD HAVE LESS TRAFFIC FATALITIES. HOW ABOUT THEY PUT PESDESTRIAN CROSSINGS IN THE ROAD BECAUSE I DROVE AND BASICALLY THERE IS NONE IN THESE ROADS IN NEW PROVIDENCE. BUT I DONT BLAME THE BUS DRIVER BECAUSE HE HAS A RIGHT TO OVERTAKE ESPECIALLY IF HE SEES A WOMAN CROSS THE ROAD HE WILL TAKE ALL IS CLEAR WHY WOULD HE BE THINKING A LITTLE GIRL IS COMING BEHIND HER THE CHILD SHOULD OF BEEN HOLDING HER HAND BESIDE HER GIVE RIGHT WHERE RIGHT BELONGS

Posted By: Dee On: 1/27/2012

Title:

Given the eye witness reports, I believe both the bus driver and the mother should face charges of reckless driving and negligence respectively. Reckless drivers plus reckless pedestrians make for a very bad situation on our streets on a daily basis. There is no question that there are far too many reckless and lawless bus drivers and drivers in general on our roads, but I have seen an equal amount of pedestrians who cross anywhere and with obnoxious disregard for the rules of the road and for their safety and that of their children. There is a cultural mindset that pedestrians automatically have the right away, even when they themselves may be in contradiction to road rules. This particular case is a prime example of all of these factors coming together in an unfortunate circumstance.

Posted By: J J On: 1/27/2012

Title: @Bahamin Drivers

@Broken Bahams am with wit 100% these drivers make me SICK, they stop in the road to talk to each while the cars just sit and wait tell they are done,then these other dumb drivers who drive with their high beamed lights on all night they still keep it on,oh then you have the ones who dnt let nobody cross the road Bahamins are the meanest drivers ever!My Hart Goes out to the Mother ,dnt forget ppl a Child was killed by a bus sometime ago!but this is what we are good for only to write online and not come together to stop all this sh$t that is going on in this Country,take a drive in the Grove on market street alkinds of one way streets now are in the ghetto.LOL

Posted By: Broken Bahamas On: 1/27/2012

Title: Bahamian drivers

I can NOT believe the comments on here. Bahamians I know many of you were messed in the head a little, and now it seems true. How in the world can you blame the mother? Yes I will not disagree that she should have been holding her hand. But shoulda, woulda, coulda. That is an insignificant thing here. Whether she held her hand or not, the child is DEAD. Not as a result of holding her hand or not. But because some impatient, lawless, greedy monkey failed to WAIT, failed to use his common sense as he moved out from the stopped vehicle, that the person was letting a woman and a child across. And I see an excuse from someone that he could not see the girl. If he could not see the child, he should not be driving a tall bus where his vision is too damn high! As Jitney drivers are criminals so aptly put it. Every single time I'm next to one of these heathens, they're either going dangerously fast, pushing their way in, cutting right in front of you. I 100% knew it wouldn't be long before we heard of one of them killing someone. I feel ZERO sympathy for him as 99% are moralless, soulless drivers who only see dollar $igns. In fact Bahamian drivers are some of the worst people Ive had the misfortune of being around. Again Bahamians succeed at the negative and fail at the positive.

Posted By: Johnson On: 1/27/2012

Title: FACTS!!!

A car is LOWER than a bus so bus drivers have a better view of what's going on in fornt of them than we do when they're in the front of us. There is something called "driving with due CARE and ATTENTION"....had this driver been paying attention he would have realized that the car in front of him had stopped to let pedestrians cross and would have patiently waited on the car to resume moving like we all have to do evrytime they stop all over the road to make a dollar. Im just SICK and TIRED of these bus drivers acting like they own the road. At least 3-4 times a week I have to maneuver to avoid a collision with one of them. EVry year one of them kills someone and all they get is a slap on the wrist........there are no consequences for their lawlessness, their bullying of other motorist, their practically hitting your car to get out of a corner. They dont care cuz their personal vehicles are safely parked at home. This is now ANOTHER child that has been killed all because this driver couldnt wait a few seconds. The little girl didnt run out into traffic, the car STOPPED to let them across the road, so in light of the fact that the car HAD STOPPED the child went across as anyone would do. It was not a regular flow of traffic that killed her, it was an impatient driver who was driving WITHOUT due care and attention that OVERTOOK a car that killed her. If you'll dont wan charge him with involuntary manslaughter or something, revoke his damn license!!!!! These people need to see consequences so they could shape up and act right.....Im tired a ppl children getting knock down in the road like dogs just for it to be highlighted in the paper for about 2/3 days and then evryone forgets about it.

Posted By: 6 On: 1/27/2012

Title: I cry

We are all to blame

Posted By: Reader On: 1/27/2012

Title: Tragedy Indeed

Two wrongs definately did not make a right!

Posted By: JJSherman On: 1/27/2012

Title: Everyone Seems To Be In A Hurry

We know that time does not wait, but again good things comes to those that wait. The bus driver seemed to be in a hurry, and so was the parent of this child, and according to the eye witness the Mother step ahead allowing her child to follow, instead of taking the hand of the child. Life is precious, and although it has been a traggedy we all should learn from this, we have to take a good look at ourselves in the mirror especially when it comes to the safety of our small children, taking them by the hand or simply waiting until the way is clear to cross the street should of been the first priority of this Mother. Children don't know the dangers, but we as parents are aware of the danger of crossing the street. I pray that both the bus driver and the Mother and the angry mob of people would take this situation and move forward to doing what is right. May the Lord console both the hearts of the Mother and the bus driver.

Posted By: Iceee On: 1/27/2012

Title: "Ye Upright and Sinless Bahamians"

@Truth Evance, read his/her comment everyone. I agree, no one is perfect, people make mistakes and we try to find who is to blame. We have questions which needs more answers. Was the bus driver illegally overtaking? Since a car stopped for the mother and child in the middle of the road where drivers have right of way, could we have said "Okay, now this is a pedestrian crossing?" In the end, everyone has made a mistake, the bus driver, the mother, the car that stopped for them, and pedestrians for not stopping it. This caused the loss of a child who was only 4 years old. R.I.P.

Posted By: Truth Evance On: 1/27/2012

Title: SMT

@MY5CENTS.... Why is it that we always feel a need to blame the government for everything.. It doe not matter how many laws that you have in place such as the one to yield when approaching a car at a halt and drive with caution when overtaking... Isn't this one of the laws of driving and of common sense... How in the hell do you expect to bring in the government on such an occasion as this.. Yes you are looking for someone to blame.. but come on dred, the government??!!# You have got to be out your mind.. For once there is something that they have no control over and yet, you decide to blame them because a bus driver decided not to obey THE LAW that is already in place...

Posted By: STUPIDNESS On: 1/27/2012

Title: my 5 cents

First of all you cant beat all bus drivers with one stick. From what I read, the mother should of given more care and consideration to her FOUR YEAR OLD CHILD...why in the world is she crossing the road behind you and on top of that you are already across the road and your back is turned on her while she in the middle of the road...AND ON EAST STREET OF ALL ROADS. Secondly, now a days you don't even know when I car pull on the side of the road to let some1 across or if they just hanging up talking. Plenty times I would be driving on the road and persons in front of me just stop in the middle of the road talking to friends. SMT we need to blame the government and law makers who allow so many laws to be broken. They themselves are breaking laws!!!!!! BUT MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THIS ANGEL

Posted By: Truth Evance On: 1/27/2012

Title: Ye Upright and Sinless Bahamians

While I am appalled and some of the responses of people pointing blameless finger, I just had to comment.. Whiles this one discussion caused an uproar in the place that I worked in my views remained as follows.. Initially she might have been holding the hand of a child whose hands might have slipped away, no one knows, or who even thought about how far the bus swung out to overtake a car that had come to a halt.. it was never mentioned.. People make mistakes, maybe she always held her hand, and it was just that one day, that one day that she made a bad judgement that cost her to lose one of the most precious gifts that anyone could have ever asked for. Whiles everyone decides to point a finger at the mother, how many of you as parents to have made mistakes, whether it's forgetting to take a seed out of an orange, or securing a seatbelt, leaving kids in a tub to answer the phone.. Facts are that these small, curious little people get into soo many things.. We spent hundreds of dollars child proofing our home even down to the cupboards, stairways, doors etc only for my 1 yr old child to swallow a screw that up to this day have no clue where it came from, luckily she did not die as a result, but am I a unfit mother because i made a mistake.. My condolences goes out to the parents and family.. Cause when something of this nature happens we as a nation morn together.. RIP

Posted By: Bril On: 1/26/2012

Title: Hypothetically

Suppose it wasn't a child that was run over. The bus driving seeing or not seeing is not the issue. The thing is, was the bus driver illegally overtaking another vehicle thus causing this accident? I don't know the situation here and no one can place blame on the driver without the facts. But I've seen many times where jitney drivers are careless on our roads. They drive in a reckless manner especially on the Cable Beach strip, without care for pedestrian or passenger. The constant chase for a dollar. I implore the proper authorities to keep our roads safe from these maniacs. Its not only the bus drivers though. We have careless tractor-trailer drivers that go barreling down our streets every morning. No care in the world as sand and rock falls from their uncovered trucks. Please we beg of the road traffice department to keep our roads safe from these maniacs. And last but not least to the morons who choose to drink and drive on our roads especially the ingrates who decide to after the Saxons junkanoo practice on Arawak Cay on Sundays please stop before you kill someone. Again Please we beg the RTD to keep our roads safe from these maniacs.

Posted By: ferrygodmother On: 1/26/2012

Title: @ Frankie the Anaconda

truth is, most Bahamians operate above the law, they do as they please and you cant tell them its wrong to do it. Even something like running the red light at night, I dont care what anyone says, its the same as running the red light in the day - the small things count, and MANY people have been nearly killed or badly injured due to others running the red light at night. Even the cops run the lights at night, what message is that sending to would be criminals - if the cops can do what they want, if some prominent citizen can break the law, then why would he think he cannot be treated the same and break the law too. We live in a lawless society, point blank. BTW first offence is too much, but should be a 3 strike law. Right now any Bahamian can have countless accidents or tickets and still be able to drive on the roads.

Posted By: Frankie the Anaconda On: 1/26/2012

Title: Sad sack society

Omnibus owners should be mandated to install speed limiters in the vehicles, the technology is mature and has been in use in the US ground transportation industry for years. The simple truth is, these Jitney drivers operate above the law, not within it, as pertains to the road traffic rules. They are constant violators and BULLIES on our streets. Laws should be imposed against them to obey a speed limiting them from endangering any of the public they encounter, whether motorist or pedestrian.

Posted By: Concerned On: 1/26/2012

Title:

Its sad to see that another child has died hearing this really and truly broke my heart but the reality is my child especially at four will not be running ahead of me or behind me. When crossing the street my child will be on the side of me or in my hands. People saying that both parent and child would have been hit but its obvious that the mother was ahead of the child and was clear to cross the road so yes the bus driver should have been vigilant but more blame goes on the parent. If she was clipped by the bus then i would blame the bus driver but because nothing happened to her only the child then the bus driver should not be totally at fault!!

Posted By: MaLambee On: 1/26/2012

Title: Jitney drivers love to overtake for $1.00

There are not traffic rules, solid, broken lines that are obeyed in Nassau. While some drivers dangerously but courteously stop anywhere to let people accross because they all jay walk.. the Jitney man should not have tried to overtake!! period.. solid line or not.. they are only interested in the next $ and have not degree of patience tolerance or respect. The child probably ran after the mother, driver still should have been more careful and if kid was with mother maybe he would have killed both..because he was overtaking! I know how those jitney drivers behave and am so afraid to even walk or jog on the street in Nassau as I can in other civilized country even on highways where there is respect for pedestrians and life perhaps means something, and criminal behavior is punishable. Many visitors complained that they were nearly run over on bay streed! A car will stop for you to cross and the other one will continue full speed ahead and knock you down or another would overtake.. Traffice rules need to be taught and obeyed, zebra crossing need to be introduced on such busy streets.

Posted By: yep On: 1/26/2012

Title: Driver or mum negligence ???

If this accident happened on a pedestrian cross road, the bus driver has to be charged for driving with negligence. If there was no pedestrian cross line, sorry for the mother but she is guilty for negligence. The roads are for cars and trucks, maybe bicycle !! We are in 2012 !! WAKE UP !!!
How do you let your child walking alone in the streets at the age of 4 ? You have to keep always the hand of the children when walking in the streets, and for personnal experience, keep the child on the building side with your hand not on the road side...RIP

Posted By: edwefwefwef On: 1/26/2012

Title: @ C Cooper

The road is made for VEHICLES.
The Vehicles have the right of way. If a pedestrian should step out in the road then you should do your best to stop, but these are not magic vehicles, it takes time to stop a vehicle no matter what speed they are doing. And even in this case, it says the jitney driver waited until the mother crossed - vehicles DO have the right to overtake by the way.
The sidewalk and cross walk are for pedestrians and the only time they have the right of way. No wonder you retards here just willy nilly walk all over the road like you think you can physically stop a moving vehicle, and obstruct traffic at every chance. Sad and tragic.

Posted By: samsonq On: 1/26/2012

Title: Ok hang on

It was certainly an accident but unless the jitney driver overtook on solid lines then its unlikely he was in the wrong (this time). In fact it would be 100% the fault of the mother for crossing a main road and not paying attention to where her child was. Sorry but thats the cold hard facts. One has the right to overtake if a vehicle has allegedly stopped in the middle of a main road blocking traffic, and one has the right to overtake a moving vehicle when the lines in the middle of the road are not solid. If there are no lines, then its not even a road and anything goes. Really its a wonder how a dozen school kids dont get run down in Nassau everyday, they walk all over the road like they are invincible, I guess they get it from their parents, likely the same clowns that illegally sell phone cards, peanuts, and newspapers in the middle of a main road, obstructing traffic and putting their life and the life of motorists at risk.

Posted By: C Cooper On: 1/26/2012

Title: From a Distance

Pedestrians always have the right of way. The driver came out of his lane as a result a life is lost. The mother's negligence to hold her child's hand while crossing could not have prevented this accident Only the driver could. Had the mother held her child's hand both may have been hit as she would have to walk at the child's pace who could not be seen by the driver.
The discourteous driver is WRONG AND THE LAW SHOULD BE FULLY ENFORCED.
My condolences to the pedestrian Mother who had the right of way.

Posted By: kelly On: 1/26/2012

Title: sad

After reading all the comments, it's sad how we lool at every possible blame fact. A little girl ia dead, whether the mother did not hold her hand or not. What happen to "my brothets keeper " we all should feel bad about this. I pray God the bus driver is able to recover as well as the lil girls family. We 're not perfect andd we all make mistakes. I just hope this never happens to know bodyelse

Posted By: Gloria Dean On: 1/26/2012

Title: 4 YEAR-OLD KILLED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

SO SAD TO HEAR THAT BUS DRIVER DID NOT HAVE RIGHT OF WAY IN HIS LANE AND MOVED TO NEXT LANE WHEN OVERTAKING CAR YIELDING TO SLOW TRAFFIC ON MOVE AS MANDATED BY BAHAMAS DRIVING LAWS. BUS DRIVERS HAVE TO BE MORE PATIENT AND DELIVER SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC MORE PROFESSIONALLY THAN THIS. MAY THE LIGHT OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SHINE ON US ALL.

Posted By: SO SAD On: 1/26/2012

Title: Embarrassing public transportation

Finger Pointer-I couldn't have said it any better!
I was on the way home from work one day, i was sat in traffic. As jitney drivers do, one cut in front of me and i had no choice but to let him in. I looked up at his back window, only to ready a sticker that said "I Kill You". I am aware that this phrase comes from a comedian, but do you think this should be allowed/appropriate on our public transportation??!!!

Posted By: Joey On: 1/26/2012

Title: Shameful

My 5 year old would NEVER leave my hands are we are anywhere near a main road. That's that third world mentiality for ya, careless and negligent! This was so unnecessay!

Posted By: oh my On: 1/26/2012

Title: accident

Not too mention how those busses are polluting the country....HOW ON EARTH DO THEY PASS INSPECTION WITH ALL THAT BLACK, DISGUSTING SMELLING SMOKE COMING FROM IT. Do we have an ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT", and is there any accountability in this country. ROAD TRAFFIC STOP THE MADNESS AND STOP LETTING THESE JITNEYS AND THESE BIG TRUCKS AND ALL OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE BAD SMOKE EMITTING FROM THEIR ENGINES PASS INSPECTION...You should no better. make them get a tune up and bring their vehichel up to par...instead of them taking the money and buying foolishness. Bahamians must stop! too slack! My she R.I.P and condolenlences to the family.

Posted By: dicin On: 1/26/2012

Title: ANGRY

Finger Pointer-- you hit the nail on the head. Well said.

Posted By: spoitier On: 1/26/2012

Title: Nassau Drivers

Sorry to hear about that little girl getting killed. I was in nassau back in september to get my passport and had to go kill some time downtown because the system was down, I can say drivers in nassau have no patience,the bus that i was driving in was going so fast and manuevering around small corners like only him is on the road, drivers cursing at other drivers because they stop to turn even though on coming traffic is moving. Now the people are nice and speak to you like Bahamians does whcich made me feel welcome after being away for such a long time, but seriously something have to be done about driving and the roads..

Posted By: Finger Pointer On: 1/26/2012

Title: Left, Right, Left again

If the statement from the "eye witness" is true, it's partially the mother's fault. A child's hand should be held by an adult while crossing the street. That said, we all know that something must be done about the bus system in Nassau. It needs to be regulated better, No need for buses to race to pick up fares.

Posted By: 'conian On: 1/26/2012

Title:

Seems to me that he was unwilling to wait for the driver of the car to proceed. He is Guilty of willful neglect. He is lucky the public did not get to him.
The Mother should have been in control of her daughter too. Some do believe that life is cheap, that is , until it is taken away.
I'm really angry ---Condolences to her Family and friends.

Posted By: Jitney drivers are criminals On: 1/26/2012

Title: I'm conflicted on this one

Jitney drivers are so horrible it's hard not to think this was the drivers fault. I agree the mother should've taken more care while her daughter was crossing, but I also know the was being impatient as they all are. Jitney drivers are the biggest bunch of criminals in this country, they have no respect for laws of the road or other drivers. I think this is a mixture of another jitney driver drivintg like an azzhole and a mother that obviously wasn't paying enough attention to her daughter.
But somehting definitely has to be done about these jitney drivers. Time for so many of them to spend some time in jail for perpetually endangering the public!

Posted By: reckless On: 1/26/2012

Title: both at fault

i think both the mother and the bus driver are at fault
but more so the mother
i think is is a classic accident, i dont think the bus driver will face criminal charges

Posted By: Kevin On: 1/26/2012

Title: Mother just as responsible

The headline should read "Fury as girl, 4, killed when Reckless Mother failed to hold her toddlers hand while crossing one of the busiest roads in Nassau"

Posted By: Citizen for change On: 1/26/2012

Title: Pain

What a tragedy! First of all, why is the child crossing the road behind the mother? Secondly, the bus driver should be paying attention to know that the car in front of him has stopped for a legitimate reason, to let pedestrians safely cross the street. Its this madness that makes you wonder will we ever have a sensible society. Will we?