Mother continues seat belt fight one year after daughter's death - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

A mother is trying to make sure other parents don't have to endure her pain after losing her daughter in a school bus crash.

Tuesday was the one-year anniversary of a school bus crash that claimed the life of the driver of the bus, 60-year-old Thomas Spencer, and five-year-old Donasty Smith, who was riding the bus to school.

The crash happened on the south side, at a bridge along Emerson Avenue, just two miles from where the bus was headed to Lighthouse Charter School.

Danyelle Smith remembered her daughter at the crash site.

"One day, I will eventually join you. I love you always and forever, Stinky. Mommy," Smith sobbed as she read a poem to Donasty.

It was the kind of grief only a mother could have after losing her child. Smith showed her grief which, at times, is still fresh.

"I was having a horrible day today, but I have to face it. She's in heaven and in a better place now," the mother told Eyewitness News.

"That baby was loved by everybody. She was funny. She was happy," said Valencie Holloway of her granddaughter.

Smith has given her pain a purpose. Behind her tears has been action. This mother has spent the past year lobbying for seat belts on every school bus in Indiana.

"All mothers all around, if it's just starting here, a small change is better than nothing," Smith said.

Seat belts are not required in Indiana. Heritage Christian School became the first in Indiana to install lap shoulder belts on its buses. Bartholomew County and Seymour schools are doing the same.

Smith said she won't stop fighting until belts are on every bus.

"It's only beginning and it's going to continue on if it's the last thing I do. That's what I'm going to do," said Smith.

This day, though, was for remembering the little girl who loved to play dress up and comb the hair of her baby dolls.