KentuckyRoads.com - Signs Marking Site of Fatal Bus Crash Temporarily Removed

Signs Marking Site of Fatal Bus Crash Temporarily Removed

Posted: 15-Nov-2003 8:32AM CST

Topics: [Carroll County] [Interstate 71]

Signs marking the site of a 1988 fatal bus crash near Carrollton have been temporarily removed during a project to replace signs along the entire length of I-71 in Kentucky.

Some local residents would prefer the signs stay down permanently. They feel the signs unfairly connect Carrollton to the accident. The signs originally read "site of Carrollton bush crash;" however, they were later changed to read "site of fatal bus crash." Families of accident victims want the signs returned.

On May 14, 1988, a drunk driver collided head on with a church bus. Twenty-seven passengers on the bus were killed by the ensuing inferno. Forty other passengers were injured.

More information: Hardin County News Enterprise: Signs at site of crash taken down temporarily (Nov. 13, 2003)

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Comments

Comment posted by QUINTON HIGGINS JR. on 19-Nov-2003 5:40AM CST

I WAS ON THAT BUS THAT TRAGIC NIGHT,I AM 31 NOW AND HAVE TWO LITTLE GIRLS 10 AND 6.WE HAVE GONE TO KINGS ISLAND MANY TIMES SINCE THE ACCIDENT.AND I KNOW EACH AND EVERY TIME I GO AROUND THAT CURVE AND SEE THAT SIGN I FEEL RELIEVED THAT PEOPLE STILL REMEMBER OUR ACCIDENT AND KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU DRINK AND DRIVE.THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT TRAVEL I 71 EACH YEAR THAT SEE THAT SIGN, PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD,AND IM SURE SOME OF THEM ARE TOUCHED BY SEEING THAT SIGN AND SOME EVEN REMEMBER THAT ACCIDENT SOME EVEN GO HOME AND TELL THERE FAMILY AND FRIENDS NOT TO EVER DRINK AND DRIVE.
I KNOW THAT SIGN MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE DRIVE PAST IT, MY 10 YEAR OLD WHO HAS HEARD EVERY STORY YOU CAN THINK OF ABOUT THE BUS CRASH,ASK ME A NEW QUESTION EVERY TIME,SO IM FORCED TO TELL A STORY THAT GOD WON'T LET ME FORGET NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY,BECAUSE I SEE IN HER EYE'S THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT SIGN AND MY STORIES FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.......SO IM AM VERY SORRY THAT THE TOWN OF CARROLLTON A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY WHAT THIS SIGN SAYS ,IT DOES NOT COMPARE TO WHAT MAY GO THOU THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE'S MINDS THAT WILL PASS THAT SIGN FOR YEARS TO COME.

Comment posted by Cindy Tunnell on 12-Apr-2004 12:08AM CDT

I for one saw the sign while driving on I 71 during a vacation. I could not remember what the crsh was....so when I got home from vacation, I looked it up on the internet. It was then that I remembered the wreck.....I for one hope the signs stay up for ever so that the rest of the world can remember what happened that horrible day. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE

Comment posted by saundra jordan on 28-Apr-2004 3:02PM CDT

Comment posted by - on 27-Jun-2004 9:35PM CDT

I never knew about the crash until on my way down to texas I saw the sign. It stuck in my head for a few weeks and I finally looked it up on the internet.

Comment posted by Scott Hagberg on 30-Jun-2004 2:31AM CDT

I drive from Cabot,Ar. to Russell,Pa. 2 or 3 times a year.I've always seen that sign but didn't know details until now.I believe those people and their tragic deaths need to be remembered.I didn't know so many were killed.

Comment posted by Adam Hatfield on 8-Jul-2004 3:53PM CDT

I saw the signs on my way down to Reelfoot Lake Tennesee. I had to look it up out of curiousity. Im glad the signs are there because I'm sure it can really have an effect on people who care to learn about it.

Comment posted by SC, Cleveland, Ohio on 23-Jul-2004 3:37PM CDT

I saw this sign last week going to TN to visit family (family I got to see again) and then saw it again on the way home to Ohio. I had seen it before, but didn't know the details. I wrote a note to look it up and finally did. My friend that was with me on this trip and said she remembered hearing about it, how horrible it was, and that several people died. She remembered also that the accident was due to a drunk driver. What a tragic ending for a group of inocent people who expected to get home after a vacation. I'm sure they are in God's memory. Most want to continue to drive our highways, however, hopefully signs like these will serve as a reminder to keep alert as much as possible since there are still wreckless, irresponsible individuals out there that, even though they may not set out to kill inocent people - - they still bear the responsibility for deaths they cause because they CHOSE to be on the road after drinking thus risking others lives. I'm in favor of the signs staying, and my heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones on that day, May 14, 1988, and to anyone who has lost a loved one.

Comment posted by BR, Miamisburg, Ohio on 27-Jul-2004 8:29PM CDT

I saw the signs again today, in both directions. I've seen them a few times going to Nashville and finally I told my 14-yr-old daughter to write it down so I would remember to look it up. I had no idea what was so bad about the crash that there were signs up so I had to look it up. Obviously, I'm "not from around here". The sign is a huge understatement. It should indicate that it was a drunk driving accident. Maybe "The 27 dead and 40 injured here would like to remind you not to drink and drive. 14 May 1988" or something. I'm not too great with words. I'm glad that I remembered to look it up, now I can explain the signs and the accident to my almost 15-yr-old daughter before she starts driving.

Comment posted by Ashley Taylor on 1-Aug-2004 8:28PM CDT

I'm a 15 year old girl that saw that sign on my way to my grandmother's house in Bardstown Kentucky from Kentucky Kingdom with my aunt and my 2 little brothers. I was very curious and i asked my aunt about it and she said that it was a crash with a bus and many were killed. i wrote it down and when i got back home to dale city virginia i looked it up on the internet. its sad that it happened and that that person was so stupid and ignorant to drink and drive. I'm am very sorry that this happened. I wish i could make it better but i know i can't but there is one thing i can do and it is to tell everyone to DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE! that might not stop alot of people but everyone says that the kids are our future so why don't they listen to us. not just adults are seeing this but kids my age and younger are realizing that it is a bad thing and i'm glad to see that but some just don't get it threw their heads. As for the signs coming down and not going back up i would have to say that they need to stay up because so many people go by and see it and feel bad and maybe some people get it threw their heads by seeing that. it would be really wrong to take it down because the victim's friends and family need a rememberance of some sort. when you go down the road and see little signs with peoples pictures and names and flowers on them because they have died there in a crash or something you don't see anyone taking those down do you??? well i guess thats all i have to say. i'm sorry that i am writing so late but i just came back from kentucky today. Thank you for listening!

Comment posted by MSC, Flint, Mich. on 24-Aug-2004 8:16AM CDT

I was traveling along I-65 en route from Michigan to Florida on spring break that very night 16 years ago when the tragic accident happened. My friends and I later guessed we were probably in Kentucky when the crash occured. It felt strange being so close to such a horrible event. I had mostly forgotten about it until this summer when I took my kids to Mammoth Cave and we passed by the sign on the highway. I told my children – ages 13, 10 and 7 – what I remembered about the crash. I couldn't remember much, so I looked it up on the internet. I didn't realize so many people were killed. I think that appropriate modest sign should remain on the highway so people won't forget the innocent people who lost their lives that night.

Comment posted by Laura on 6-Sep-2004 4:28PM CDT

I was traveling from Saint Louis to Cincinnatti the other day & I saw that sign. I was very curious about what had happened there, so I looked it up on the internet when we returned home. I figured it had to be a very tragic accident in order for a sign to be put up & if anyone were to take it down, it would be very insensitive! The people of Carrollton County should not be so selfish in thinking that their 'image' is the only reason that the signs should not be up. They should be glad that they are - maybe their own kids will look at those signs and remember what a tragic accident that happened on May 14,1988 & remember the consequences of what happens when you drink and drive. Taking those signs down would be the most disrespectful thing that you could do for (not only the people who lost their lives on that horrid day), but, also their families, who still hold all of those families deep in their hearts and memories.

Comment posted by Laura on 6-Sep-2004 4:29PM CDT

Comment posted by SG Columbus, OH on 9-Sep-2004 3:00AM CDT

I was on my way to Barren River lake to see family when I saw the sign. When I got home i looked it up, and couldn't believe it. and to think that guy got only less than 6months of time per innocent person dieing is just not right if u ask me. I think the sign should stay up. To the people on that bus u are in my prayers tonight and everynight. May God bless u.

Comment posted by SG Columbus, OH on 9-Sep-2004 3:00AM CDT

Comment posted by on 22-Sep-2004 5:18PM CDT

I've driven by the sign many times within the past ten years and not once did I associate it with the town.

Comment posted by Dean H - Campbell, TX on 12-Oct-2004 2:37AM CDT

Comment posted by Dean H - Campbell, TX on 12-Oct-2004 2:48AM CDT

I'll try again to post this.
A couple of weeks ago our neice Erin, her husband Matt and baby Reland, age 3 came from Washington state to visit. We enjoyed remembering Dwaila, Erins' older sister killed in the crash and and thought how she would have enjoyed a family of her own. I made a comment I wondered if anyone remembered her and the 26 others. My husband Jack was at her funeral as she was laid to rest. I never knew there was a sign until tonight when I looked up the driver of the truck to see what happened to him. I think the sign is an honor to these families and their loved ones. I think it's a good reminder that drinking kills and that our remaining family is precious.

Comment posted by Salamon A Masud on 20-Oct-2004 9:15PM CDT

I PASS THAT SIGN MANY TIMES. I THOUGHT TO MYSLEF WHERE WAS I ON THAT VERY DAY TIME WHEN CRASH TOOK PLACE .THE CRASH HAPPENED ALMOST TWENTY YEARS AGO.I WONDER WHAT WENT TROUGH THIER MIND AT THAT VERY MOMENT .WHEN I SAW THE SIGN I THOUGHT IT MUST HAVE BEEN GRAYHOUND BUS .I WAS JUST SO CURIOUS ABOUT THAT ACCIDENT.I WAS SO SAD I HAD TO LOOK IT UP .DRINKING LEADS TO SENSELESS DESTRUCTION.

Updated: 20-Oct-2004 9:15PM CDT