Vigil held for driver, student killed in Monday morning bus crash

Donasty Smith's mother said her two little girls usually sat together on the bus on the way to school but Monday morning, Donasty sat up front. She, along with her bus driver, died from their injuries when they crashed into a bridge on Emerson Avenue.

"Mommy loves you. I will always love you mommy will never forget her, she was my clown," said Danyelle Smith, Donasty's mother.

An emotional message from a mother who tragically lost a child.

"I kept saying, 'I don't have one, I have two. Donasty is my 5-year-old, Ariel is my 7-year-old' and they couldn't find Donasty."

Dynasty's older sister was treated at an area hospital, along with several other students.

Their young classmates, meanwhile, gathered at the scene with their families to pray and to begin to process what happened.

"She died," said 6-year-old Duane Wade.

His mother said he knows the word but that he doesn't really understand what it means.

"I told my son that Jesus came down and took her home to heaven and his remark was Jesus can't do that. She has to go home with her mom, that's the rule here at school," said Tiarra Wade, Duane's mother.

Even older students had a special place in their hearts for the happy little girl whose mother said she loved school.
This was her first year in kindergarten.

"She didn't know what my name was so she'd say good morning best friend," said 13-year-old Savanna Johnson.

Johnson said she felt like Donasty's big sister. She wanted to be her role model but she was forced to say goodbye in a note Monday.

"She nurturing and if she thought you were sad, she'd pat you on the back and say 'it's okay smile, mommy, it's going to be okay.' She was a star that ended before she got to shine."


A memorial has been growing here beside the crash scene. There are stuffed animals, flowers and a few other presents.

Donasty's mother made a point to thank her community for the support and now she just wants to know what happened.

The school bus driver, 60-year-old Thomas Spencer, also died from his injuries.

A woman who worked beside him spoke during the vigil.

"I've known Tom for a very long time. We started off driving metro together and we came a long way. Tom was a good person, he did his job and he did it well.

"I just felt like someone who was a driver needed to say a few words on his behalf also so please pray for his family. Pray for all of the drivers because it's a big responsibility"

The bus had about 50 children on it, ages 5-16.