Florida Teen Honored at Vigil on 18th Birthday After Being Hit and Killed by a School Bus

A Florida teen who died in a college bus crash this week was honored with a vigil on what would have been his 18th birthday.

The teenager was driving his bike to Lake Minneola Excessive College when he was hit by the Lake County college bus simply earlier than 7 a.m. native time on Monday, in response to the Florida Freeway Patrol.

Lake County Faculties recognized the sufferer as highschool senior Sherman Vannoy.

A vigil was held Thursday night time to honor Vannoy’s life. He would have turned 18 that very same day.

“The assist has been overwhelming and we’re all grateful,” Vannoy’s mom stated throughout the occasion, in response to NBC affiliate WESH. “I don’t even have all of the phrases.”

The bus, pushed by a 78-year-old, tried to make a left flip to enter the highschool as Sherman entered the crosswalk, FHP stated. The bus driver “swerved” to attempt to keep away from Sherman, however collided with the sufferer earlier than persevering with off the roadway and putting each a cease signal and a chain-link fence. 

Sherman was taken to South Lake Hospital, the place he was pronounced lifeless, troopers stated. The bus driver, who was unhurt, remained on the scene.

“He was Sherman. He was any person who couldn’t be replicated or modified,” stated Josue Santana, a buddy of the sufferer, in response to WESH. “He was everyone’s buddy, everyone’s buddy. Regardless of who you had been, you may be mates with Sherman.” 

Earlier within the day, college students and employees throughout the Lake County college district wore purple “in reminiscence of Sherman Vannoy,” in response to a press release from the district representing Lake Minneola Excessive College. College students additionally signed a card for what would have been his 18th birthday and “sang joyful birthday in his honor throughout the morning bulletins.” 

Vannoy was additionally honored at two video games — a volleyball recreation and a junior varsity soccer recreation — hosted at his highschool on Thursday. The tip zones of the soccer discipline had been painted purple “in his honor.”

Rivera additionally made positive to rejoice Vannoy’s birthday by making the meals and placing up the decorations that they deliberate to place up earlier than Monday’s lethal crash.

The bus driver concerned in Monday’s lethal crash has since been positioned on go away, and the varsity district stated they’ll now not drive for them, in response to ABC affiliate WFTV. An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Moreover, A GoFundMe has been created to assist Vannoy’s household. As of Friday afternoon, it has raised over $26,000.