[adoptionblessings]

7 children killed in Florida crash

Car crushed between truck, bus; victims adopted by one family

By Ron Word
Associated Press
Published January 26, 2006

LAKE BUTLER, Fla. -- Seven children who had been adopted by a single family were killed Wednesday when their car was crushed between a truck and a stopped school bus in rural northern Florida.

The children, ranging in age from 15 years to 21 months, were headed toward their home about 2 miles north of the crash site. The truck hit them from behind, pushing their car into the bus and causing the car to burst into flames, police said.

"It's just a mangled, charred mess," said Lt. Mike Burroughs of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Everyone in the car was killed, including the 15-year-old girl who was driving illegally.

Burroughs identified the children's adoptive mother as Barbara Mann. He did not have further details about the family.

Evidence showed that the truck, which was carrying bottled water, did not brake before hitting the car on the two-lane road, Burroughs said.

The bus ended up 200 feet from where the car struck it, and the cab of the truck lay overturned near the scene, Burroughs said. The bus was at an approved bus stop, but it was not immediately clear whether children were getting on or off.

Nine students were on the bus; three were thrown from the vehicle by the force of the crash.

Officials said three students were hospitalized in serious condition and two were in fair condition. Burroughs said he believed the other four were treated and released.

The drivers of the bus and the truck were also hospitalized. Trucker Alvin Wilkerson, 31, suffered minor injuries. Lillie Mae Perry was thrown from her bus; her condition was not immediately known.

Burroughs said charges against Wilkerson were pending the investigation.

The car was driven by 15-year-old Nicki Mann, who was with siblings Elizabeth Mann, 15; Johnny Mann, 13; Heaven Mann, 3; Ashley Kenn, 13; Miranda Finn, who was either 8 or 9 years old; and Anthony Lamb, who was almost 2 years old. Lamb was in the process of being adopted, Burroughs said.

The bus was operated by the Union County school district, which has three schools in the area about 60 miles southwest of Jacksonville.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team of investigators.