Smoky Mountain Journal -Prosecutor: Chattanooga Bus Driver Was On Cell Phone, Driving 20 MPH Over Speed Limit In Deadly 2017 Crash That Killed Six Elementary School Students




The Great Smoky Mountain Journal Source: Fox News Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:36 PM

Prosecutor: Chattanooga Bus Driver Was On Cell Phone, Driving 20 MPH Over Speed Limit In Deadly 2017 Crash That Killed Six Elementary School Students
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP)-- A prosecutor says a Tennessee school bus driver was on his cell phone and driving 20 mph over the speed limit when he caused the crash that killed six elementary school students. Johnthony Walker is being tried on 34 charges, including vehicular homicide. Prosecutor Crystle Carrion said in opening statements Tuesday that Walker was driving 50 mph when his bus ran off the curvy road, overturned and hit a tree. Walker's defense says he swerved to avoid another vehicle. Authorities say Johnthony Walker was speeding when the bus crashed with 37 children on board. He was charged with 34 offenses, including vehicular homicide. A prosecutor says Walker took a cell phone call at the time of the crash. According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press , Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston said Walker received the call at 3:17 p.m. It lasted nearly four minutes. Pinkston said the first 911 call about the crash came in at 3:20 p.m. Walker has been out of jail on bond and had to wear a GPS ankle monitor. He was also not allowed to drive.