June 1999

Tobias Escobar

The 'Tard of the Month feature is usually light-hearted.  I poke fun at someone or
something, make some sarcastic remarks, and give people a little chuckle.  With
my apologies to those of you who were looking for a quick laugh, I cannot let the
month of May draw to a close without saying something about the individual seen
above.  Meet Tobias Escobar, a 35-year-old resident of Norcross, GA (a Metro-
Atlanta suburb).  On the afternoon of May 10th, two 10-year-old twin sisters, Mary
and Martha Thomas, got off their school bus and began to cross a two-lane road
to go to their babysitter's house.  The stopped school bus had its stop lights
flashing, as well as a flashing stop sign extended out its side.  Unfortunately,
Tobias Escobar, who was driving a flatbed truck with a tractor in tow, didn't stop. 
Instead, he swerved around the school bus and hit the two girls.  One of the little
girls, Mary, escaped with her life.  Her twin sister Martha did not.

Martha Thomas

I don't know the words to express my sorrow and outrage at what happened here.
When a school bus is stopped with its lights flashing it means that there are
children getting off the bus, some of whom may be crossing the road.  In other words,
STOP!!!  How difficult is that to comprehend?  Is saving a minute of time worth
taking the life of a 10-year-old little girl and maiming another?  Is it really worth the
risk?  There are some things I want to say about this man, Tobias Escobar, some
very harsh things.  But I'm going to bite my tongue on this one, because I believe
in due process, I believe every individual is entitled to his/her day in court prior to
being judged.  I will, however, report the facts known at this time.  Tobias Escobar
has been charged with Vehicular Homicide and other offenses and is currently
awaiting trial.  He faces up to 23 years in prison if convicted on all charges.  He
claims that his brakes failed.  (If his brakes failed, I'd like to know how he stopped
his truck after hitting the two girls.)  His driving record shows numerous prior
infractions, including two convictions for DUI.

My heart goes out to Martha's family, I wish a speedy recovery for Mary, and I
sincerely hope that Martha is in a better place.  Donations to a memorial fund for
the Thomas family can be made at any Georgia branch of Regions Bank or
NationsBank.