TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Very sad incident at the airport

So sad

Oh dear, prayers to the family....

Very sad. Where was a parent watching that child?

Who knows? Still very hard to blame the family, who has suffered such loss..

Children are very quick and can dash out in the street regardless of how well they are being watched. Our thoughts and prayers go out to this family at such a very difficult time.

How very sad.

Very sad and the was left in car with his other small Brother .

That is heart breaking. I guess the little one decided to get out of the car.

Agree. They are lightning quick. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

Poor driver of that transport. He must be traumatized.

update

https://thedailyherald.sx/islands/59674-update-child-killed-by-shuttle-bus-at-airport-no-arrests

We were going past the airport when it happened. Saw the ambulances, police and many people from terminal outside watching. Went to paper later to see what happened. Sad.

Such a very sad thing for all concerned.....to lose a child is a horrible nightmare for the parents and equally so for the van driver, both of whom will forever carry the incident in their hearts forever.

My only question - did the Daily Herald really need to show that picture?

It is not unusual for the DH to have what I consider to be inappropriate pictures in it. In this case, particularly inappropriate and heartrending.

I know they do tend to show the gory details. I always wish they'd show respect for the families involved, and in the case of a child - just my personal opinion, but I do think they could have spared the photo and still have gotten the point of the article across. Good taste and basic consideration for all involved should have prevailed...... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

A lot of Folks locally was very upset with them posting the picture.

Lesley--I hope someone there could make a complaint to the DH and at least get them to remove it from the online version.

Pat, I was also disturbed by the Heralds choice of photo. It needs to be removed. I can't imagine anyone, much less anyone with a child that would think that photo is appropriate.

Shame on the "D H" for posting this photograph!!! God bless, kids are so quick on there feet! So excited to be on vacation!! As parents, you can never be to careful too!

I haven't seen the story online yet, but today's regular DH says that officials have reviewed the surveillance tapes from the airport and that charges will probably NOT be filed against the shuttle bus driver.

If it happened like the child's father described it, I can understand that. It sounds like the child ran out into the road, probably from between cars, to retrieve a dropped water bottle. Those vans have no hood, and I can completely understand how the driver could have not seen the child.

Daily Herald story Just a really sad story.

Sounds like they made the right decision. Both the busdriver, and the father have to live the rest of their lives with the horror of this incident. Sounds like the bus driver didn't do anything wrong, no speeding, no drinking or anything else wrong. Even if they went ahead, and prosecuted the poor child's father, any punishment that would've been handed down won't even come close to the guilt I am sure he is feeling over the loss of his son. This was a lose/lose situation to all. My heart goes out to all involved.