A school bus driver in a crash that killed six elementary school students in Chattanooga, Tenn., was not under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
Johnthony Walker, 24, is facing vehicular homicide, reckless driving and reckless endangerment charges in connection with the November incident that injured at least 30 other students, officials said.
The report, released Tuesday, did not offer many new details about the bus crash, which occurred shortly after 37 students from Woodmore Elementary School boarded bus No. 366 to head home on Nov. 21.
Within a mile of the school, Walker lost control of the bus and crashed while speeding down a narrow road, police previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He “had deviated from his normal route," the agency said in the report.
Hamilton County, Tenn., school officials had received several complaints about Walker’s dangerous driving and behavior and twice informed the company that operates the district’s buses, The AJC reported.
The company never said if it took disciplinary action against Walker after learning of the complaints.
Walker declined to speak with NTSB investigators after the crash, the agency said.
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