Johnthony Walker crashed bus months before fatal accident

Woodmore Elementary school bus crash

Two months before he crashed his school bus into a tree, killing at least five children, Johnthony K. Walker hit another vehicle, a Chattanooga police report shows.

Walker was driving his bus east into a curve on Sylvan Drive around 2:40 pm on Sept. 20 when he crossed the center line, the report shows. His bus then swiped the side of a Kia Soul, whose driver was heading west through the curve.

Nobody was injured in the crash, according to the report, and only minor damage marked both vehicles.

The report does not say whether Walker, 24, was driving too fast when he crossed the center line. On Monday night, after Walker crashed again, Police Chief Fred Fletcher said speed may have been a factor.

Chattanooga police charged Walker with five counts of vehicular homicide Tuesday, as well as one count of reckless driving.

Upcoming Events