Charges recommended for bus driver in I-94 crash

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – The driver involved in a crash carrying Eau Claire Middle School students last week (4/24/24) has been cited. 2 charges are being recommended against the bus driver. State Patrol says it is referring charges of operating a vehicle too closely and operating a school bus without proper endorsement to the St. Croix County District Attorney’s Office. This is all in connection to a crash last Thursday when an Eau Claire student transit bus was taking students from DeLong Middle School to Minneapolis on a field trip.

The Wisconsin State Patrol says the student transit bus rear-ended an empty CMV tanker trailer on the St. Croix River Bridge on I-94 near Hudson. 6 people on the bus were hurt and treated on the scene, two were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Now, through an investigation, a sergeant with the Wisconsin State Patrol says there are questions surrounding the driver having the proper certification to be driving the bus. Wisconsin State Patrol Seargent, Sean Berkowitch, explains, “Commercial Driver’s License is required for vehicles that are over 26,000 pounds. The endorsements are vehicle-type specific. So, there’s various amounts of endorsements. In the case of school buses, you need a school bus endorsement to be able to legally operate them.”

We are not naming the driver because they have not been formally charged. According to St. Croix County Court, the driver was issued a ticket for an automobile following too closely. Student Transit has not responded to our request for an interview or comment.

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