N.J. Teen Killed After Sticking His Head Out Double-Decker Party Bus and Hitting Overpass
- Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:29am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Daniel Fernandez, 16, was killed Friday night after sticking his head out of the top of a double-decker bus and hitting an overpass. (Image source: New York Daily News)
A New Jersey teenager headed to a Sweet 16 party was killed Friday night after he stuck his head out the emergency hatch of a double-decker bus and hit a highway overpass.
Daniel Fernandez, 16, was one of 65 teens aboard the party bus as it crossed the George Washington Bridge from New York City, the New York Daily News reported. The accident occurred around 6:45 p.m.; Fernandez was pronounced dead of severe head trauma at a hospital a short time later.
“When the bus went under the Fletcher Ave. overpass, the boy’s head struck the underside of that overpass,” a New York Port Authority spokesman told the newspaper.
Image source: New York Post
Image source: New York Post
Fernandez’s friends witnessed the accident and were left covered in his blood, according to the New York Post.
“Kids said they saw a lot of blood and they saw his head get struck. They were so traumatized,” Leon Tyrone McKivor, an emergency medical technician who stopped to help at the scene, told the Post. “I could see the look on their faces. A handful were covered with blood.”
One girl who was apparently on the bus when it happened tweeted afterward: “Sitting here with your blood on my foot wishing this was all a bad dream. I love you so much dan you were there for me till the last second.”
A security guard who was on the bus said he told the teens to leave the rooftop hatch alone.
“I told them not to open the hatch, like three or four times, but kids, they don’t understand,” Alex Franco, 41, told the Daily News.
He said he went downstairs to speak to the driver about how hot it was inside the bus.
“It was very hot. Everybody was dancing. Two, five minutes I was downstairs,” Franco said. “Then I heard two guys screaming, ‘Oh my God, oh my God.’ … I saw him on the floor. His face was like, no teeth.”
Designer Transportation, the company that operates the bus, expressed its “deepest heartfelt sympathy” for the boy’s family, according to the Associated Press, and said it plans to conduct an internal investigation.
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Comments (174)
oldwmn
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:50amA can AIR HORN would have solved the problem on the first three time you told the young man not to touch the roof latch , a stun gun would have gone with the 4th warning, and got his attention, he would have been pissed off. but he would have been alive, sorry folks its a sad sad story, but these are your Frankenstein s you created as parents, you let them run wild, your too busy being their friends, I grew up a army brat and a catholic, we said yes mam no mam when our parents said JUMP we asked how high…the parents will have to live with this long after the media has faded
Report Post »chips1
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:55amIt has nothing to do with the parents!!! There are many parents in jail because the laws prohibit correcting your children. It‘s the government’s job according to politicians.
Report Post »sligresda
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:21pmuh who are these parents in jail for correcting their children? i think you might be over exaggerating just a skosh.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:36pmI’m understating the reality. Slightly swat your child at the mall and someone will call the police and you will need to hire a lawyer. The cost will be outragious. You need to watch the news more. Your kids know that all they have to do is call Child Protective Services and your life will become a living he!!.
Report Post »Toltepeceno
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:00pmchips1 Bad example, it should be done at home and not at the mall. People used to tell their children “just wait until you get home” when I was growing up and we knew what was coming. Never in a mall or anything like that. It takes a little common sense, unless you like taking your children to a mall to do it for some reason.
Report Post »The Giver
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:11pm“It was hot in the bus”. Sounds like he was opening the hatch to allow some of the heat to dissipate ( what else are the hatches for?) and made the mistake of sticking his head out to look.
Report Post »Why were they “DANCING” in the bus? Looks like dancing led to heat, heat led to opening of the hatch. They should not have been allowed to be dancing on the bus. Why allow dancing on a moving bus to begin with? You trust there will be supervision on the bus. What poor kid must have been helping him reach the latch to help cool the bus? If they were told to sit down and not dance and they continue, they should have stopped the bus ( even on the GW bridge) and told them they would not proceed till they sat down. A limo co. in Maine taking teens to their prom saw them drinking while in the limo and took the teens back home. The parents instead of praising their move, complained that they would have to drive the teens themselves. But their business has grown since other parents found out how reliable they are with their teens.
May Dan rest in peace in God’s loving arms. My prayers go out for his family and all the young friends affected by this.
The Giver
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:17pmOops! Looks like I overlooked the “emergency” hatch part. The bus driver should have stopped the bus if they were dancing. In your seats or you don’t go anywhere. Traffic in N.Y. is so bad that it’s like a parking lot anyway.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 2:20pm[One girl who was apparently on the bus when it happened tweeted afterward: “Sitting here with your blood on my foot wishing this was all a bad dream. I love you so much dan you were there for me till the last second.”]
Report Post »I guess that’s the modern way youth find closure, no return tweet means they really are gone.
It’s my guess they would have been more traumatized if all their phones had hit the side of the bridge.
watersRpeople
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 2:24pmThe American parent struggle to shelter their children from inconvenience and tragedy has turned them into little clones.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 2:27pmThe Giver,
Report Post »Why would he stop the bus? Isn’t it clear yet you are ruled by babes? Parents don’t run the family – the children do.
watersRpeople
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 2:32pmI guess he won’t be opening a hatch again.
Report Post »getitgotitgood
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 3:09pmLol!
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 3:12pmCan’t fix stupid.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 3:36pmI look at it this way. He didn’t follow the rules and it killed him, and better now than living another week whereby he might have killed a car load of his friends by not following the rules.
Report Post »LB
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 3:56pmSorry for this loss. Yes parents are to passive these days. Kids will still love you if you require respect and rule following and will thank you when they have kids. You can add friend to the list with your kids when they are adults and still be a parent at the same time. Until then parent! If you don’t know how learn.
Report Post »grimmster
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 3:56pmTragic as it is,stupidity breeds stupidity,what part of “emergency” did he not understand? Did this happen because he couldnt read english, was he high, or what seems to be the norm nowadays, stupid? A little common sense would have prevented this…..
Report Post »chalkdust
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 4:14pmExtra tall double-decker bus with just barely enough room to make it under the over passes plus kids who have no idea just how tight that section of road is equals a tragic accident. If you’ve ever driven across the George Washington in anything bigger than a pick up, you know it’s a white knuckle drive. Just an accident.
Report Post »9635kari
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 4:26pmStop blaming the parents. You are taking responsibility away from the boy who went against common sense. Youth at times feel they are invincible.
Report Post »antiprogressive
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 5:34pm10 to 1 the parents sue the bus company and win.
hatches will then be “alarm equipped” raising the bus fares.
laws will be written.
And somewhere down the road a hatch will be locked
resulting in ANOTHER lawsuit after a fire or accident.
Gotta love today’s world…
Report Post »ltb
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 5:43pm“One girl who was apparently on the bus when it happened tweeted afterward: ‘Sitting here with your blood on my foot wishing this was all a bad dream. I love you so much dan you were there for me till the last second.’”
—–
Another friend tweeted “OMG, can’t believe Dan is gone, my new dress is ruined, will be running a little late to party, have to change out of bloody clothes.” What a bunch of self-absorbed morons.
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 7:26pmLTB, I’m pretty sure you made this one up. Why would you want to do that?
“”Another friend tweeted “OMG, can’t believe Dan is gone, my new dress is ruined, will be running a little late to party, have to change out of bloody clothes.” What a bunch of self-absorbed morons.”"
Report Post »princessnutsack
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 9:45pm@ chips, i work with (not for) the division of family services in missouri….they dont have time for parents who get hotlined for smoking marijuana, so they sure in the h.e.l.l dont have time for parents who spank their kids in disipline. i swear, some of you people on this site live in this comfortable suburbia and have NO clue what the actual world is like. no flippin wonder democrats think you people are out of touch.
Report Post »Freedombeliever
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:43pmI must say, I don’t understand why all the blame is going out. It was not anyone’s fault. Why does everyone have to always point a finger of blame? This was just a tragic accident unless someone forced the boy out of the hatch. Not the parent‘s fault and not the kid’s fault. These were teenagers cutting up and having fun and not being smart. I know I did some pretty ridiculous things in my teen years and am thankful and lucky I lived through those years! Prayers going out to the family an friends of this young boy. It’s just sad..
Report Post »RobbieTLHughie
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:19pmRestoring love, right guys? By justifying the accidental death of a teenager. Yep. Compassionate, indeed! Just what Jesus Christ would say, “The kid was a jerk, deserved to die… Yessum.”
Report Post »Sorionc
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 12:06pmDancing = hot = head out the window = decapitation. Don’t you people see its obvious we should outlaw dancing!
Report Post »pecosval
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:47amterrible loss…but really, sticking your head out of a DOUBLE DECKER BUS. What has happened to common sense?? Yes, teenagers like to show off, and this is sad.
Report Post »themediamatrixhasyou
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:58amTime for a knee jerk government ban on something. Wonder what they will go after…. Party buses, double decker buses, emergency hatches, overpasses?
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:00pmYou must remember a teen’s brains are not fully formed and incapable of rational thought. This is according to Dr. Phil. In fact, it is not until 21 or 22 that a youth’s brain can use some common sense.
Report Post »Toltepeceno
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:56pmCOFemale Then if you believe that you must think it horrifying that they can drive legally.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:26pmI have had SEVERAL near-accidents with teenagers, because they don’t watch what they are doing. Even with laws, they still play with their cell phones while driving, or speed and dart through traffic.
Report Post »Flip you off if you get in their way, when legally, you had the right of way.
Some kids aren’t mature enough to be driving.
bdandsl
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:46amWonder how long before the parents sue the company, driver and security guard because their kid did not follow the rules?
Report Post »sligresda
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:24pmindeed, he ignored the rules.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:19pmMore than likely, they will likely say that the chaperone should have had a walki-talkie, or that the bus mop any should have had a communication system, and blame this on the chaperone, because he didn’t watch them every second. Society has no expectations of teenagers these days.
Report Post »I’m sorry for this kids parents, and the kids that had to see this, but this was no one’s fault, but Daniels.
I understand it was hot, but most rules are there for their own safety.
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:34pm“mop any”? I hate auto-correct. Should have been company.
Report Post »sweetgold
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 2:45pmSue, hmmmmm. About 8 seconds. Too bad the kid is dead. The more crass here will mention the Darwin theory or gene pool selection or something but not me.
Report Post »ilovetheusa1
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:45amone less stupid person in the world. double decker bus, “do not open hatch” underpasses. If you can’t put it all together, then off with your head. The people to feel bad for are the other kids, this will haunt them forever.
Report Post »sgtbrown01
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 2:26pmKeep your hands and arms inside the ride at all times….this means your head to ….thank you for showing us the products of our education system leaving you with and empty head then taking it off lol
Report Post »SolitudeBliss
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:44amSad story but it should drive a message home to young people out there: Rules are there for a reason.
Report Post »bdandsl
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:42amAnother example of someone [a kid, in this case] that do not listen to rules/instructions. Likely, because they think the rules are just to limit their fun. It’s a SAFETY issue!
Report Post »RinkyDink34
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:38amSad but, if you survive being a kid you may get to mature.
Report Post »Bigolfascist
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 3:23pmI sometimes wonder how I made it past 19 years old…..I’m 64 now and I still did stupid stuff after hitting 30! Such a sad story.
Report Post »freedomisasfreedomdoes
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:35amMy condolences to his friends and family. That was an awful way to die. :(
Report Post »AmericanPatriot
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 2:59amAmen.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 3:38amThank-you FREEDOMISASFREEDOMDOES. I am saddened by some of the comments here. What the heck does it have to do with his parents? He was a young kid. How many of you on here did foolish things when you were young that could have easily turned into a tragedy? My God people, where is your compassion? He was a handsome young man with his whole life ahead of him. How can you make jokes about it or assume that he was a spoiled brat with terrible parents? He made a horrible mistake that cost him his life. There is nothing funny about it. It could happen to your own child, how would you feel then? My prayers to his family and all that were on the bus, and for those of you on here that find it necessary to post heartless and cruel comments .
Report Post »sparkyrules
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 11:46amMy thoughts exactly.We were all young once and did stupid things at one point or another.May God Bless this young man and his family.
Report Post »scrappyscarlett
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:31amWhat a tragedy. Generally people rent party buses for “drinking and partying in a safe environment” (?). I ONLY HOPE those children were not abusing drugs and alcohol. This happened in the Detroit area to an young adult male during a “bachelor” party, and yes, it was determined he was intoxicated. Its common sense to not hang out of the top of ANY moving vehicle. The guard stated he told the kids to stop doing that, well, I would have stopped the party bus, it was not controllable. This is an example of the consequences of not listening ~ and turned into a tragedy. How sad.
Report Post »zipzap
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:31amIt’s a tragedy. Preventable tragedy. One universal truth. Some children will always learn the hard way.
Report Post »Val_Dragon
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 4:09pmIf Obama controls healthcare in an aging society then he effectively control its death rate. If he controls the death rate then he can effectively control the amount of revenue collected as a result of the death tax (the federal estate tax). This is a tax that is assessed on the value of all of your assets upon your death including your house, cars, furniture, business property, machinery and inventory, stocks, bonds and real estate. This is a big part of his hidden agenda. This is the pot of gold Obama is after.
Report Post »In 2013, the exemption drops from $5 million to $1 million. Under an Obama 2nd term that exemption will fall much further and the death tax rate will climb enormously. This is how he is going to “spread the wealth around”.
HOOT_OWL
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:27amIn every industry we have lock-outs for a reason in this country. and this should
Report Post »have been tagged as possible danger. either that or a alarm should have sounded off.
Someone really dropped the ball and any way you look at it, there will be a lawsuit for sure.
COFemale
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:06pmThey can’t lock it as it is an emergency exit for the upper deck. Most like there is a warning not to open while the bus is moving. Kids do not read or comprehend the dangers ahead. They only think of the fun they are having and not their safety.
As the story said the “chaperone” told the kid on many occasions not to open the hatch. He was headed down to the driver to report the temperature in the bus and as soon as he was gone, the kid opened the hatch. Sorry he sealed his fate. I only feel sorry for friends and family because they will remember how he died being a dummy.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:31pmII they are children of Democrats, they will, forever, remember it was the bus, the driver, and the chaperone’s fault that this happened. In no way will they think it was the kid’s fault.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:24amjust what the internet needs another national enquirer. the blz been bought by the anti-american crowd?
Report Post »EBL
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:19amMom was right. Never stick anything outside a moving car window.
I saw a fictionalized scene like this on Six Feet Under. But that was sort of dark comic. This, in real life, is horrific and tragic. He was just a kid enjoying the moment. My condolences to his family and friends.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:17am…
Report Post »Horrible tragedy.
May God bring comfort and inner peace to his family and friends.
RodT82721
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:15amWill all buses have to lock their roof vents now? We have evidence that such a device can be fatal to fools, so someone in Congress will have to fix this.
What a law suit for the family, the guard only told him 3 or 4 time not to do it. Obviously that wasn’t enough.
Report Post »Doug Piranha
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:58pmThose are not vents. Those are escape hatches in case of an accident and the bus ends up on its side. They cannot be locked for the same reason fire escape doors cannot be locked.
Report Post »liveefree
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:14amLack of respect begins in the home. As sad as this is, it is a example of just how terrible society has become. Dancing on a bus? Really? Blame the parents.
Report Post »cmonnow
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 7:57pmblame the parents ?? don’t you realize that you are on the Blaze ?!? the real culprit is Obama.
Report Post »liveefree
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:11amHeads Up.
Report Post »BlazingPatriot
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 12:15amNot funny!
Report Post »prov1
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 12:51pmis this what they mean by road head ?
Report Post »prov1
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:41pmDanny DUCK !!! …where, where I can’t see one…let me stand a little higher
Report Post »Note to self: Head butting an overpass at 60 mph. … bad idea.
That’s taking “curb stomping” to another level.
Bet the last thing that went through his mind, was an ciment overpass.
Olympic face plant
RIP- your teeth have been implanted into a ciment memorial
* pardon my sarcasm, but when we quit giving trophies to every child on the losing baseball team, they will learn to be responsible and logical in their actions.
Jenny Lind
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:11amI am around teenagers a lot, and it seems to me they really push the “obediant” button a lot. They really believe they are invincible. People, parents and schools warn them, but every year we bury classmates who thought they could beat the rules. Some things never change, but it seems more frequent now. They have more information than ever, why don’t they believe it? I am so sorry for all involved, especially his family. Sad moment.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:11amHow tragic. That poor kid and those that witnessed it. Kids think adults are saying NO to stymie their fun or that they are immune to the dangers that the adults see. I hope that this horrible incident will in some way help the other kids recognize some of the dangers we adults try to warn them about.
I pray that God will support and ease the suffering of Daniel’s parents and loved ones.
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:50amI’m sorry for the families loss. Teenagers do the stupidest things and in this case the kid bought the fickle finger of fate.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:44amToday, more than ever, kids DO UNDERSTAND, but they just have no respect for rules and authority and they lack basic common sense.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:36pmYou have to keep your head during these times. Always use your head and never get ahead of the situation. But this kid just thought he was heads and shoulders above everyone and had to head out on his own, making a heady decision. Now he will have to have a cerebrial discussion with the Head man in Heaven.
Report Post »Freebird
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:04pmWith all that head knowledge you should hold your head high and go to the head of the class.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:15pmheadzactly.
Report Post »Jezreel
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:43amKids today are not raised to obey and listen. Sad that he was killed but I would rather see a swift judgement like this happen to somebody in the white house instead for not listening to the American people. Somebody else’s head needs to come off rather than a 16 year old.
Report Post »The Giver
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:29pmWe don’t have to decapitate him or those we disagree with. In this country we still have elections : ) And they’re coming SOON!!!!!!
Report Post »cmonnow
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 7:55pmnow now Giver – let the Blazer’s have their blood lust…
Report Post »GlennaBeckski
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:41amWords fail me.. beautiful young man.. horrific story.. Unreal
God’s Peace and Comfort to your family Daniel. Father God erase the dreadful memories from all who were on that ill fated bus and replace them with Your Love and Presence.
So very sad.
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:12pmAmen.
Report Post »Mac_Wade
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:38am“I told them not to open the hatch, like three or four times, but kids, they don’t understand.”
They do now.
Report Post »randy
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:17amThey understand, They just don’t give a rats A$$.
Report Post »whofarted
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 4:59pm, the guard NEVER said a thing, he was doing what everyone does C.Y. O. A. They were dancing, thats OK, but stay away from the hole.bull cookies
Report Post »cmandd
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 9:01pmIt was a party bus, not just a “bus to a party”.
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:36amTragic, terrible thing.
Report Post »