LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- State inspectors say a local day care was guilty of several violations in a deadly crash involving one of its vans. It's not the first time the state says the center improperly transported children.
A report by the state's Cabinet for Health and Family Services says the 15-passenger van, was carrying 16 people when it crashed. And it was not the first time the van had been overloaded.
The van smashed into a tree on Algonquin Parkway on June 12, killing day care monitor Tiffany Belk and injuring 15 others.
The state inspector's report confirms there were 14 children and two adults in the van at the time. That's one person too many.
The report also said it was impossible for two staff people to adequately supervise that many children.
The inspectors found that only one infant was properly secured in a car seat. Three or four were actually sharing one lap belt in the back.
That was confirmed by a witness WDRB interviewed in June.
"I started handing the children out. And they had, like, four kids in one seat belt. And they were all shifted to one side, and all three of them were laying on this little girl," said James Jaggers.
The report notes that two children were ejected when the van crashed.
The report also indicates that daycare owner Lavonia Lewars had been found not in compliance numerous times when it came to transporting children.
Inspectors found the daycare had overloaded the van on several dates in December 2010 and January 2011.
The report says Lewars had promised to take corrective action but failed to do so. WDRB interviewed a former Heavenly Angels worker who had seen transportation problems.
I had physically seen other employees transporting children in their own cars," said Amy Jones.
Police say a blown tire may have led to the crash.
Lewars closed Heavenly Angels shortly after the accident.
She recently pleaded not guilty to defrauding a state day care fund of more than 300-thousand dollars.
Lavonia Lewars could not be reached for comment.
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