Who We Are
We are B.U.B.B.A. (Buckle Up for Bswag and Bubba Association,) an organization dedicated to seat belt safety awareness in remembrance of the lives of Brett “Bswag” Wagner and Josh “Bubba” Rogers.
Wearing your seat belt is a habit that may have saved Josh “Bubba” Rogers and Brett “Bswag” Wagner’s lives.
The two 18 year old Lakewood Ranch, Florida boys were tragically lost in a car accident on Christmas day in 2011. The impact from the accident threw Brett and Josh from the truck; neither were wearing their seatbelts, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The third passenger in the truck, Brett’s cousin, former University of Florida defensive tackle, Terron Sanders, sustained minor injuries- the fact that he was wearing his seatbelt saved his life.
This harsh reality has caused Debbie Wagner and Gena Rogers, the mothers of Brett and Josh to come together with friends and believers in the message of seatbelt safety — to form B.U.B.B.A. It is the goal of the organization to provide as many teens and families with information, motivation and incentive to make wearing their seat belt a life saving habit.
Brett & Josh’s Story
Brett Wagner and Josh Rogers were two amazing friends who grew up in Bradenton, Florida. These two boys were best friends from a very young age and they did everything together growing up – from sports, to playing, to hanging out with friends and family – they were always together.
Just months before they were to graduate at Lakewood Ranch High School, these two boys were involved in a terrible automobile crash that would end their lives. It happened on Christmas night, Josh Rogers had gone to see his life long best friend Brett Wagner and his cousin, former University of Florida Defensive Tackle, Terron Sanders at Brett’s house. They decided to take a quick trip to Walmart to use some gift cards they had gotten for Christmas. Brett hopped into the back seat of Josh’s truck, Terron in the passenger seat and Josh drove away . Just a few minutes later as they drove down state road 64 in Bradenton, another vehicle ran through a stop sign and struck Josh’s truck where Terron was sitting — between the front passenger seat and the front right tire.
The collision caused Josh’s truck to spin out of control and then flip over a dozen times. Brett and Josh were not wearing their seat belts and they were ejected from the truck. Terron was wearing his seatbelt in the passenger seat, it was and the most damaged part of the vehicle with the roof cutting into the headrest of his seat.
Josh and Brett both died as a result of the accident. Terron Sanders suffered only minor injuries, even though the passenger side of vehicle was impacted most severely. It is believed that had Josh and Brett were wearing their safety belts that they too would still be with us here today.
Read about Josh & Brett
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111227/ARTICLE/111229615?tc=ar
http://www.bradenton.com/2012/01/01/3757863/nearly-1400-pack-bayside-community.html
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111231/ARTICLE/111239916