Two bus crash victims remain hospitalized

Bus crash victim Michael Hobbs Jr. celebrated his birthday in a hospital room at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health Tuesday.

Joe LePage

6:22 p.m. EDT, March 13, 2012

Indianapolis

Bus crash victim Michael Watkins celebrated his birthday in a hospital room at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health Tuesday. It was far from where he wanted to be on his 10th birthday.

"His skating trip. What he really wanted to do today was go skating. He will not be doing that for a while," said his mother, Natasha Watkins.

Watkins said it is far from a traditional birthday location, but it is what family and friends had to do.

"He is depressed about it, but he has family and friends coming to his room and bringing him presents, so he should be okay," said Watkins.

Michael Watkins is one of two Lighthouse Charter School students still at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. A bus accident Monday involved a total of 50 students. Bus driver Thomas Spencer, 60, and 5-year-old Donasty Smith died in the crash.

The boy's mother admitted she has not given her son the details about what happened during the accident.

"We have not told him much," said Natasha Watkins. "We felt it would be best to let him recover a bit before we tell him what happened, including what happened with the bus driver."

The victim's parents plan to throw a bigger birthday party when he is released from the hospital.

"It will be great to have him in familiar surroundings, in our home environment," said Natasha Watkins. "We look forward getting him home and helping him heal."

His parents said they will focus on the positive and look forward to a time when their son will be back to a normal way of life.

"We will just stay at Riley, and help him get better," said Natasha Watkins. "Get well so we can get him home."

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