Witness Statement Differs from Preliminary Investigation of Bentonville Bus Accident
By: Cassidy Hodges, KNWA
Updated: October 10, 2012
A witness is raising questions after Bentonville Police released
preliminary investigation results of a pedestrian accident between a
school bus and a 17-year-old girl.
"I find it really hard to think that this whole thing is going to be pinned on her," says Massey.
Tuesday, the Bentonville Police Department stated quote "At the time of the accident, the bus was passing through this intersection on green traffic signal."
But Josh Massey, who gave his statement to investigators, remembers a different scene.
"My statement was that the light was red that the bus driver had ran on a red light, that I was sitting at a red light."
Massey says the bus was traveling alone through the busy intersection.
"There was no one in front of the bus and the bus was already traveling at a high rate of speed and came through the intersection. I was at a complete stop."
And the preliminary results made by police said, "At the time of the accident, the pedestrian was crossing the highway without a protected signal."
But according to Massey, "It was a red light at the time, the girl was almost into the turning lane and when I looked over, that's when [she] got struck by the bus and flew about 15 to 20 feet in my direction."
Despite the differences in Tuesday's announcement and Massey's recollection, Bentonville Police Chief Jon Simpson wants to reiterate, this investigation is not closed.
"It's an unfortunate accident that occurred and I think there needs to be some sort of justice," says Massey.
Right now detectives are reconstructing the accident to determine more factors that contributed to the injury.
Continuing Coverage:
"I find it really hard to think that this whole thing is going to be pinned on her," says Massey.
Tuesday, the Bentonville Police Department stated quote "At the time of the accident, the bus was passing through this intersection on green traffic signal."
But Josh Massey, who gave his statement to investigators, remembers a different scene.
"My statement was that the light was red that the bus driver had ran on a red light, that I was sitting at a red light."
Massey says the bus was traveling alone through the busy intersection.
"There was no one in front of the bus and the bus was already traveling at a high rate of speed and came through the intersection. I was at a complete stop."
And the preliminary results made by police said, "At the time of the accident, the pedestrian was crossing the highway without a protected signal."
But according to Massey, "It was a red light at the time, the girl was almost into the turning lane and when I looked over, that's when [she] got struck by the bus and flew about 15 to 20 feet in my direction."
Despite the differences in Tuesday's announcement and Massey's recollection, Bentonville Police Chief Jon Simpson wants to reiterate, this investigation is not closed.
"It's an unfortunate accident that occurred and I think there needs to be some sort of justice," says Massey.
Right now detectives are reconstructing the accident to determine more factors that contributed to the injury.
Continuing Coverage:
