5 replies to this topic

[AdamB]

I don't know if anyone on here knew Judith. I personally did not... but what a horrible tragedy to occur in downtown today. For all of us who walk these streets everyday, this hits close to home. I wish the family and friends of Judith comfort in these hard times.

Also, prayers with the bus driver as she strives to cope with this very devastating situation.

For those who are unaware of what occured today...


http://www.wfaa.com/...k-99348734.html

[Brian Luenser]

I don't know if anyone on here knew Judith. I personally did not... but what a horrible tragedy to occur in downtown today. For all of us who walk these streets everyday, this hits close to home. I wish the family and friends of Judith comfort in these hard times.

Also, prayers with the bus driver as she strives to cope with this very devastating situation.

For those who are unaware of what occurred today...


http://www.wfaa.com/...k-99348734.html

Agreed. I am especially sad for the driver. My wife was talking to a bus driver the other day as she was riding up Camp Bowie. He said he had had many close calls. He also said there were a lot of crazy people and drugged people that were just not scared of his bus. One guy ran in front of his bus, he slammed on his breaks and the guy was just bloody. The guy was on meth according to his girlfriend. And was proving his love for her.

Likely not of that the case today just making me think of the hazards of driving a bus today when a large percentage of the population is high and much of the rest on the phone or otherwise distracted.

Was on Houston Street when it happened today.

http://www.fortworth...m...0&start=140

[Cowtown Mike]

Brian,
I agree and pray for both the pedestrian and the bus driver. We don't know exactly what happend but with people on the streets, cars and those buses are big anything could happen. I just hope the driver was not distracted by the cell or texting.

On a side note my father drove a Trailways Bus for close to 40 years and never had an accident. He drove millions of miles on charters and his last 20 years his route was from Washington D.C. to New York city round trip. Those were the days when he had to shift the gears and turn that big wheel.

My father was a big man at 6'3'' and barrel chested. He had on more than one occasion to escort people off the bus for their behavior.

[Brian Luenser]

Mike, I think I can jump to these conclusions. Your Dad was and outstanding driver, and lucky, both. He had be a great driver to drive that many miles, frequently with loud/crazy people and not have an accident. I think we can also say he was lucky. A blowout in the wrong place, a drunk driver coming at him head on, etc... could have put an end to his terrific record. Hat's off to your Dad. Exactly the guy I want driving my bus.

I know everybody in Fort Worth has a real sense of loss for Ms. Peterson. I was on Houston Street when it happened. Took a photo of the scene moments after. I felt fairly detached to the whole incident until I read about Judith Peterson. A total class act. A contributor in society. A net positive to the planet. For me, it then set in. I could not understand how somebody could get hit by a huge slow moving bus. Unless the person was crazy or high. I was way wrong. I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I think I now have a sense of what went wrong. I have several times walked West on 6th thinking about turning traffic. The bus was on her back. As a downtown employee she may have even had a sense that the bus was going straight as it normally would without the 9th street construction. And then the wide arc that a bus must take to turn a corner. (I would need a football field personally) I now think it was a tragic accident without any real blame. The Bus driver had a 2pm sun in her face, proceeding through a green light. Ms. Peterson had a crosswalk light giving her the go-ahead. It happened. A smart coherent pedestrian, a smart coherent bus driver. It is the truth about accidents many times. Nobody is at fault. (I know there is a money sucking attorney out there that would disagree with me.) But I believe it. I have never been in an accident. But I have almost been in accidents. Really at no fault of anybody. Like you and I both moving into the center lane at the same time on the freeway. Sometimes you are asked to yield when it is neither safe to yield or slow down. Stuff happens. (Best to stay off the roads all together of course. I exercise that option most) Took the train to Dallas for the third Saturday in a row. Not without risk but better than driving.

I took these few pictures tonight of the flowers on Ms. Peterson's make-shift Memorial. I post these not because I like them or I think they are good. I am sad. (I won't say morning out of respect for those that knew her and are morning terribly.) I post this to honor a very special woman. And to remind people to be careful around traffic.

[David Love]

Just plain sad, thoughts and prayers for everyone involved.

[Cowtown Mike]

Yes and sad when a life is loss. Prayers to the families of both. Prayers to the driver as they have to live with this tragic accident. One never knows what is going to happen.