Johnthony Walker announces that he plans to testify
The driver of the school bus that crashed and took the lives of six Woodmore Elementary students told a Criminal Court jury on Wednesday morning that his bus began to go out of control after another vehicle came into his lane.
Johnthony Walker, 25, said a white transit vehicle got into his lane as he went down a hill on Talley Road in Brainerd on Nov 21, 2016.
He also said he looked down at his speedometer a short distance before the wreck and he said it showed he was going 35 mph. He said earlier on Talley Road he was driving under the posted speed limit of 30 mph.
Testimony is now over in the nationally-watched case and it went to a Clarksville, Tn., jury after final arguments and a charge from the judge. The jury will resume deliberations on Thursday morning.
The slightly built Walker said he was on Talley Road that day because some students on the road had been added to his route.
He said he did get a brief phone call from a co-worker while on the route, but said he took it on hands-free Blue Tooth and it lasted only a few seconds. He said he was not on the phone at the time of the crash.
Walker said when the other vehicle came into his lane that he faced either a head-on collision or getting off the road. He said he then went off to the right and eventually wound up crashing on the opposite side of the road.
The driver said he blacked out briefly after the accident. He said when he came to his hands were gripping the steering wheel and his foot was on the accelerator. He said he went outside and tried to call for help using the Siri feature on his phone.
He said he afterward made several calls, including to his mother, his step-mother, and the mother of his son. He said, "I had just gone through a traumatic situation and I did not know what the outcome would be."
During his time on the witness stand, he made no comment about the fate of the students - several of whom were crushed to death when the bus slid on its side into a tree.
Walker said he did help some of the students on the bus, including helping two little girls get out.
After the close of the state's proof, defense Attorney Amanda Dunn asked for a judgment of acquittal, saying the state had not proven its case against Durham School Services driver Walker.
She said there was evidence from state witnesses about a small white bus that may have forced the school bus off Talley Road, leading to the crash.
However, Judge Don Poole said two witnesses said Walker was driving at an excessive speed on the narrow, curvy, hilly road. He also said it was testified that Walker was using his cell phone around the time of the wreck.
A nearby resident told of hearing the "squealing" of students on a bus and going down to see Bus 366 "zip by." She said she then saw a small white bus come up the hill from the opposite direction. She said it appeared it was "mountain driving" - going over into the opposite lane at times in order to better navigate curves.
The resident said the driver of the white vehicle stopped nearby after the wreck and stayed on the scene for a lengthy time. She said it was a man who was pacing and talking on his cell phone.
City traffic investigator Joe Warren said video from the bus does show a white vehicle going the opposite way shortly before the wreck, but he said he did not believe that was the cause. He said marks on the road showed that the school bus was speeding.
Earlier Wednesday, State Trooper Wade Clepper said he examined the mangled school bus at Yates Wrecker Service. He said he found that the bus had been in good working order prior to the wreck, including the brakes, the tires and wheels, the steering mechanism, and the suspension.
The trooper, who works with the highway patrol's pupil transportation program, said he found "no violations."
The state's final witness was Dr. Stephen Cogswell, deputy chief medical examiner, who detailed injuries suffered by the six Woodmore Elementary students who died in the wreck. He said several of the students suffered crush-type injuries, while two were partially ejected.
The graphic testimony sent several family members running out of the courtroom in tears.
Walker is facing 33 criminal counts, including six of vehicular homicide.
Johnthony Walker