School bus driver indicted in connection with 2018 deadly crash on I-80 in Mount Olive
MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – The driver in a bus crash that left a East Brook Middle School student and teacher dead in 2018 was indicted Wednesday.
Hudy Muldrow, 78, of Woodland Park was indicted Wednesday on two counts of second-degree reckless vehicular homicide and 25 counts of fourth-degree assault by auto. Muldrow is also charged with 16 counts of assault by auto, according to Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp.
The Indictment stems from a motor vehicle crash that occurred on May 17, 2018 on Interstate 80 in Mount Olive Township, Knapp said.
The investigation revealed that Bus #2, as well as two other buses, left the school on the morning of May 17th en route to Waterloo Village. Shortly after 10:00 a.m., the three (3) buses exited I-80 West at exit 25 onto Route 206 North. It is believed that shortly thereafter, the three buses missed a turn that would have taken them to Waterloo Village. It is further believed that the three buses drove in an effort to correct their route. Bus #3 detached from the other two buses and arrived safely at Waterloo Village. Thereafter, it is believed that Bus #2 separated from Bus #1. Bus #1 eventually arrived safely at Waterloo Village.
The investigation has further revealed that after Bus #1 and Bus #2 separated, Bus #2 travelled on Route 206 South towards the on ramp leading to I-80 Westbound. At or near the point of entry onto Route 80 Westbound from the on ramp, Hudy Muldrow is alleged to have turned Bus #2 to the left in an apparent attempt to gain access to the official-use only access point located between the East and Westbound lanes of I-80.
As part of this maneuver, it is alleged that Hudy Muldrow turned Bus #2 so that it was positioned in an almost-perpendicular direction in relation to the lanes of travel on I-80 Westbound. I-80 Westbound in this area is a three (3) lane highway. At this time, Bus #2 was impacted by a dump truck that was travelling in the center lane of I-80 Westbound. As a result of the impact, Bus #2 was redirected and came to rest in the center median.
It is alleged that Muldrow’s reckless operation of a school bus caused the deaths of East Brook Middle School student Miranda Faith Vargas and teacher Jennifer Williamson and caused injuries to 40 additional bus passengers plus the driver of a dump truck, Knapp said.
The matter is tentatively scheduled for an Arraignment before the Hon. Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. at the Morris County Courthouse on April 29, 2019.
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By: Jay Edwards Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook
