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On this day in1988, a deadly Kentucky bus crash became America’s worst DUI tragedy
Thirty-eight years ago today, dozens were killed in the deadliest drunk driving crash in history as a school bus full of children was struck by a drunk driver.
It is arguably the worst drunk driving accident in history. Police say Larry Mahoney’s blood alcohol content was nearly 2.5 times. The legal limit when his pickup plowed head on into *** church bus. The death toll would reach 27 24 of whom were Children, an old school bus filled with Children from the Ratcliffe First Assembly of God church was returning home from *** trip to Kings Island. The driver of *** pickup truck, *** drunk driver by the name of Larry Mahoney was going the wrong way on interstate 71 near Carrollton, Kentucky. Police say Larry Mahoney’s blood alcohol content was nearly 2.5 times. The legal limit. When his pickup plowed head on into *** church bus. The impact jammed the bus’s front exit closed and ruptured the fuel tank. That is just the the the flames came. People were crawling in their seats and people were just getting run over. Little kids were getting run over and toward the back, crawled over everything in my way, bodies seats and at the rear exit, it was completely packed with bodies and I was trying to get out and finally when it cleared, I got climbed over *** seat and the seat was so hot, it melted my right palm. When they pulled me out, I was still on fire. My thought was, I’m the only one who made it. You know, that’s *** bad feeling. Several people escaped through the back door and windows. Nearly *** dozen others suffered burns that will scar them for life. But 27 people died in this bus. 24 Children and three adults. It is arguably the worst drunk driving accident in history. We the jury find the defendant Larry Wayne Mahoney guilty of manslaughter in the second degree. Mahoney was sent to prison for manslaughter, assault and wanton endangerment. Some saw *** jail sentence of only 16 years as insufficient for the man responsible for 27 deaths and *** lifetime of tragic memories for the victim’s family and friends. What happened to us is horrible and we can’t take it away. We can only become bitter or we can become better after the Carroll County crash. Larry Fair. Shannon’s father decided changes must be made because of my loss, my grief, my experiences, the least that can happen is something to be improved. So he went to Frankfurt and for years lobbied to get laws changed. You see all school buses must meet *** set of federal regulations but states can make the standards stricter as they see fit. The average school bus specification probably contains around 45 to 50 pages, the Kentucky specification, more than 120 page school bus safety has drastically improved in the Commonwealth Kentucky’s requirements go above and beyond the federal minimum, creating an even safer environment for Children. Carolyn Nunnelly turned her 10 year old daughter’s tragic death into an opportunity for change. Since Patty’s death, Nunn has tried to help where she can working to change D laws. 25 years after the crash, *** lot has changed, the legal limit has been lowered and more than 1400 pieces of legislation have passed. But one thing that remains, I’ll never forget it. So there are those memories that although time takes away *** lot of the pain you still remember. Life has not been the nightmare. Karen thought it would be. She says her life is wonderful and she wants life for others to be the same. If you’re going to drink, if you’re going to have fun and go out and have *** beer or two, some have someone to drive you.
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On this day in1988, a deadly Kentucky bus crash became America’s worst DUI tragedy
Thirty-eight years ago today, dozens were killed in the deadliest drunk driving crash in history as a school bus full of children was struck by a drunk driver.
Thirty-eight years ago today, dozens of people were killed on May 14, 1988, in the worst drunken driving crash in U.S. history.A church bus carrying 67 people was driving down Interstate 71 in Carroll County, Kentucky. A drunken driver, traveling on the wrong side of the interstate, struck the bus head-on.The bus’ fuel tank ruptured, and the bus was engulfed in flames. The passengers, most of them children, rushed to escape. Many of them did not succeed.A total of 27 people were killed in the crash; 24 of them were children.The Carroll County bus crash remains one of the most heartbreaking highway disasters in American history, but through tragedy, the loved ones of some of the victims who died worked to change drunk driving laws and increase public awareness.Watch the video to learn more about this tragic story and to witness the resilience of those who survived.
Thirty-eight years ago today, dozens of people were killed on May 14, 1988, in the worst drunken driving crash in U.S. history.
A church bus carrying 67 people was driving down Interstate 71 in Carroll County, Kentucky. A drunken driver, traveling on the wrong side of the interstate, struck the bus head-on.
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The bus’ fuel tank ruptured, and the bus was engulfed in flames. The passengers, most of them children, rushed to escape. Many of them did not succeed.
A total of 27 people were killed in the crash; 24 of them were children.
The Carroll County bus crash remains one of the most heartbreaking highway disasters in American history, but through tragedy, the loved ones of some of the victims who died worked to change drunk driving laws and increase public awareness.
Watch the video to learn more about this tragic story and to witness the resilience of those who survived.
