Ohio man who caused fatal school bus crash that killed 11-year-old boy sentenced to prison
A man whom a jury found guilty of causing a school bus crash in Clark County that killed an 11-year-old on the first day of the 2023-2024 school year last August will spend at least nine years in prison.
Hermanio Joseph, 36, had been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide last month. Joseph had been behind the wheel of a minivan that struck a Northwestern Local Schools bus on the morning of Aug. 22.
Aiden Clark, 11, died after being ejected from the bus in the crash. More than 20 other students were injured.
Clark County Common Pleas Court Judge Douglas Rastatter sentenced Joseph to a minimum of nine years in prison and a maximum of 13 ½ years in prison. Joseph could have faced a maximum sentence of 11 to 16 ½ years behind bars.
Joseph, a Haitian immigrant, did not have a valid driver's license, according to testimony at his April trial. The jury deliberated about an hour before reaching its verdict.
During Joseph's trial, video from the bus was played for the jury. The video showed Joseph's minivan, which was headed east on Route 41, crossing the centerline and striking the school bus, which had 52 students on board headed for their first day of school.
The minivan traveled down the bus, striking the rear wheel, according to testimony at trial. The collision with the wheel caused the bus's rear axle to break. The bus overturned, ejecting Clark, according to testimony.
Joseph testified that the sun was in his eyes when the crash occurred.
The Springfield News-Sun reported that several members of Clark's family spoke during Joseph's sentencing hearing on Tuesday, which took place the day before classes end for the 2023-2024 school year in the district.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Clark County school bus crash: Ohio man sentenced for death of child
