Charges have been laid in the fatal crash and additional charges may follow. Driver is being held on a bond exceeding $100,000.
In the aftermath of a school bus being wrapped around a tree, five young lives were cut short.
NEW: @hamcoschools Dr. @KirkKelly_HCDE confirms:
*5 kids died (1 boy & 4 girls)
*(3) 4th graders
*(1) Kindergartner
*(1) 1st grader— Greg Funderburg (@gfunderburgNC9) November 22, 2016
Some of the injured aren’t out of the woods yet.
New: .@hamcoschools Interim Superintendent Dr. @KirkKelly_HCDE confirms 6 kids are still in ICU and 6 in regular rooms.
— Greg Funderburg (@gfunderburgNC9) November 22, 2016
Here is the driver:
NEW INFO: Total bond for school bus driver charged in deadly wreck is at $107,500, per affidavit: https://t.co/8MGq1jGXgZ pic.twitter.com/psKTdXGsR8
— WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) November 22, 2016
Daily Mail reports:
Johnthony Walker, 24, has been charged with multiple counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and reckless driving, Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher told CNN late Monday night.
The bus that Walker was driving crashed and wrapped around a tree Monday afternoon, authorities confirmed.
Five children died at the scene.
Walker is charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, but could face more charges as the case proceeds to a Hamilton County Grand Jury, Fletcher said.
It is unclear at this time what led to the crash.
Fletcher said that speed is being investigated ‘very, very strongly’ as a possible factor, adding that driving conditions were clear and dry.
He said ‘a warrant has been issued to remove the informational box on the school bus and review the video’, CNN reported.
It is always tragic to report the death of a child. Even more so when there are so many.
