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Teenager killed when motorcycle collides with school bus (UPDATED) - Nov. 2, 2:46 p.m.
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Police and firefighters investigate a fatal collision between a school bus and motorcycle in the Carolina Forest area Monday morning. Photo by Michael Smith | The Chronicle.
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Editor's Note: This Web posting has been updated from earlier postings.
By Michael Smith and Charles D. Perry
The Chronicle
An 18-year-old Myrtle Beach student died Monday morning when his motorcycle collided with a school bus, officials said.
The incident occurred around 8:10 a.m. Monday morning at the intersection of International Drive and S.C. 31, the second fatal crash to occur there in the past 18 months.
Marc Chaplin, a student at the Academy for Arts, Science and Technology, died after the motorcycle he was operating collided with the bus around 8:10 a.m., said Teal Britton, spokeswoman for Horry County schools.
Britton said there were no students on the bus, and no one else was hurt in the crash.
Teams of grief counselors have been sent to both schools, though most of them are going to the academy because that’s where Chaplin spent most of his time.
One of Chaplin's friends, Samantha O'Rourke, spoke highly of him.
"He was a great guy and so nice," she said. "He didn't deserve this. He always made me laugh and brightened the day. He had a huge future ahead of him."
Bus driver Mike Burns, 76, of Little River, had just finished dropping off students at the Academy of Arts and Sciences and was headed back to North Myrtle Beach, Britton said.
Burns, who has been driving for the district for four years, has not been in any other accidents that the district is aware of, Britton said.
As a matter of procedure, the district requires any bus driver involved in a crash that ends in serious injury or death to take a toxicology test.
Burns won’t return to active service until the results of the drug test have been completed, Britton said, though “there isn’t anything at this point that indicates fault,” she said.
Public reaction
When reached at his home Monday afternoon, Burns said he'd been told not discuss the crash.
"Really, I can't tell you much because I've been told by the school not to talk to anybody," he said. "It's just an unfortunate thing."
Burns' wife called Monday's crash "terrible."
"It's awful," she said. "I feel sorry for his parents. You're raising a baby and then (he's) almost graduating school and then going to college. Now (his mother) don't have him no more."
Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins, spokesman for the S.C. Highway Patrol, said the motorcycle was heading north while the bus was going south when the wreck occurred.
Collins said he couldn’t comment on whether the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, nor could he say if either vehicle was attempting to make a turn onto S.C. 31.
According to observations the Chronicle made at the scene, there was a helmet lying in the roadway.
The motorcycle came to rest on the northbound off ramp to S.C. 31, about 10 feet from International Drive. There was moderate damage to the front left of the school bus.
No charges had been filed as of press time. The Highway Patrol’s Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is still investigating the collision.
“Whenever their investigation is finished, we’ll see if any charges apply but none have been filed at this point,” Collins said.
Crash site has history
The crash site is almost the same spot where a Maryland was killed March 21, 2008.
Frank Buskirk, 77, of Maryland, died when a pickup truck slammed into his minivan, which was carrying seven passengers.
Buskirk was a passenger in the van and was wearing his seat belt. At least two others were airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital.
Collins said he’s not aware of any special safety issues at the intersection, noting it’s well marked and that there’s a direct line of sight for motorists.
It could be several days before troopers even have a preliminary report on the crash, Collins added.
Brett Harrelson, safety engineer with the S.C. Department of Transportation, said the agency has reviewed the intersection following the crash and determined no upgrades or additional safety measures are warranted.
“This location is not one that’s been prioritized and recommended for any improvements,” he said.
However, Harrelson said he hadn’t initially heard of the March 2008 fatality, noting that the DOT would take a second look, but couldn’t say if it would result in any adjustments to the intersection.
More details will be posted as they become available.
Freelance writer Michael Tomassetti contributed to this report.
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Submitted By:
c |
Submitted:
11/3/2009 |
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Submitted By:
Michael Smith |
Submitted:
11/3/2009 |
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Submitted By:
Christie Chestnut |
Submitted:
11/3/2009 |
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Submitted By:
J |
Submitted:
11/3/2009 |
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Submitted By:
wondering |
Submitted:
11/10/2009 |
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Submitted By:
jon matthews |
Submitted:
11/10/2009 |
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Submitted By:
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Submitted:
11/10/2009 |
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