School bus driver charged with vehicular homicide
John Walker, 24, was arrested on charges of five counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving in Chattanooga, Tennessee last Monday, November 21. The charges come after Walker crashed a school bus with 35 school children inside into a tree, causing the death of six elementary children and leaving 24 others with injuries ranging from non-life-threatening to critical.
Police investigators said they are looking at a high rate of speed as a possible factor of the accident. They ruled out road conditions as a likely contributor of the crash. Police have yet to determine if the suspect was drinking while driving or if he was drunk prior to assuming control of the wheel. Emergency medical responders spent considerable time freeing children trapped inside the school bus, which was almost torn in half after getting enveloped around a tree. The accident occurred near Talley Road in southeast Chattanooga.
The personal injury lawyers at John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers send our thoughts to the families, friends, and community members harmed by this tragedy.