Every day that 6 year old went to school death was waiting on him

Scottwood Elementary School student did not stand a long-term chance, it was just a matter of time before he got hit by a school bus

On Friday, January 5, 2007, the Columbus Dispatch published a front page headline story that scared the hell out of me.  The story was wrote by reporters Theodore Decker and Bill Bush about a 6 year old boy killed by a school bus while trying to cross street while his grandmother watched from her warm and cozy seat in the car. If I sound pissed its because I am.  My 5 year old son goes to that school and, the picture of 6 year old Asa Mayle in the Dispatch article, too close for comfort, looks like that of the face of my 5 year old son.

Every morning that I drop my son off at school, looking at the traffic pattern on Scottwood Road, with mostly everyone in the auto-pilot mode, with some parents in a too-big-of-a-hurry mode and, the ambush crosswalk that was waiting on little Asa or someone like him, my head and my heart fills with dread as I issue a stern warning to my son each and every day since he started to going to Scottwood Elementary School as he gets out of the car and, I am right there beside him, with his hand in my hand "Look both ways for cars before you cross the street OK?"

When I heard news reports of the little Asa incident, I was filled with rage and fear, mostly rage because I felt that little boy did not have to die.  When I read the Dispatch article I really hit the ceiling.  In the article, police said the investigation could take months.  I found that incredible.  So I'm writing this article in the interest of justice and the memory of little Asa, and I'm going to let the sticks fall where they may.

First, Grandma McCarey, you should have got your butt out of the car every morning and walked little Asa to his bus stop.  Even a damn fool could see that Scottwood Road is very dangerous in the morning.

The flashing warning light compelling people to slow down to 20 miles per hour that was on the day after little Asa's death at the time of his death, should be on all day until the last kid leaves the school and the last kids that are going to arrive in the area have come and gone.  Its called traffic calming.

Here is the biggie and this should help the police get their investigation completed faster.  Scottwood Elementary and Columbus Public Schools, stop letting school buses pick up children in front of a crosswalk.  When a bus driver takes off they are accelerating and looking for other cars, and changing lanes and not looking for children who will be trying to do what they were trained to do.  Cross at the crosswalk.

Little Asa is dead in part because the bus driver was trying to stay on schedule, navigate down a narrow, 2-way street with parking allowed on both sides of the street, change lanes and accelerating with her starting point just a few feet from the crosswalk which was in her direction of travel.  Little Asa did not stand a chance.

Comments

[Madscribe]

Cornell, sadly, I have to agree with you. I tutor grammar school kids and its heartbreaking how some people don't properly watch or prepared their children for school, particularly in the African-American community.

Yes, it's not politically correct in our touchy-feely, no-one-is-ever-truly-responsible society to call the Grandmother on the carpet, but you are right on the money.

Unfortunately, we will see this sad sort of event time and time again.

[Ben]

So what are you saying Madscribe? That black folks are too damn lazy to keep their kids safe? Just so we're clear...

ps- pretty ironic to see the phrases "I tutor grammar" and "people don't properly watch or prepared their children for school" in the same sentence....really makes one say "Hmmmmmmm......"

[Cornell]

Hey Mac I get what you are saying and Ben's reaction is typical to the facts on it's face.

It's not that Blacks don't care about their children or are lazy. The problem, particularly in the Black community is young, foolish single black females that have too much on their plate and don't have the experience and guildance to handle the challenges of being a parent.

In this case, it was a matter of learned behaviour. Grandma had problems when she was young. She did not learn from her mistakes and Little Asa paid for it.

Cornell

[anonymous]

Please speak from fact. Grandma is severely over weight and has a hard time entering and exiting a car. She was doing her daughter a favor taking her grandson to the bus stop. Many well educated people do not do the same. Skin color does not make a difference. Asa's mother was very involved in the PTA, etc. He was a well behaved and intelligent child. Accidents happen and yes can be avoided, but do not place blame on the family or bus driver here.How can anyone say that Grandma used Asa to learn from her mistakes.

[Mystery]

I cant believe the crap I just read...How dare you blame the grandmother..And Laziness are you serious...This family just lost a precious child to an accident...Yes accident...All you can do is take what was learn to try and keep other kids safe...My heart hurts to read such garbage...And I pray for you and your families...That you will never have to feel the pain and sorrow that this family has felt and will feel for many many years to come...

[Jessica Mayle-Cruz]

I came across your site and this blog and I CAN NOT BELIEVE what an idiot you are Cornell, To be such an "educated man" you are a moron. I detest every single word out of your mouth.
I am the proud mother of Asa Imad Mayle and I don't care if he was doing jumping jacks in the middle of that street the bus driver should have had common sense to SLOW down and pay attention to her surroundings!!!! There was another bus there and that was Asa's bus he was walking to that had it's flashers on. The driver herself has admitted to having her head turned NOT LOOKING IN FRONT OF HER while crossing through not 1 but 2 crosswalks in front of an Elementary school????????????? No Asa did not stand a chance!! And before you place blame on my mother or on Asa LEARN the facts, I thought you was a Private Investigator??? Then why didn't you learn the facts before running off at the mouth?? Did you know that Asa was in the cross walk? That he did not run out in the street??? There is so much that you DON'T know about this whole situation. I can't believe the things you and others have said.
I couldn't take Asa to the bus stop that day because I was at work trying to support my children. And yes, I am a single mother but you know what?? I am the best caring and loving mother you will ever find. I take care of my children. I always have. Just as my mother took care of me. So Cornell, where has all your intelligence brought you? Your an in-sensitive, un caring, thoughtless, idiot. However, I hope you NEVER EVER EVER have to go through the hell that I have been going through!!!!

[Cornell]

Jessica, I am sincerely sorry for your lost but I wrote what I wrote

Cornell