Affidavit: Truck driver in fatal church bus crash on pills, texting before accident
AFFIDAVIT: TRUCK DRIVER IN FATAL CHURCH BUS CRASH ON PILLS, TEXTING BEFORE ACCIDENT
The truck driver involved in the fatal church bus crash last month stated he had been on medication and was texting before the accident, a Texas Department of Transportation report shows.
The truck driver involved in the fatal church bus crash last month stated he had been on medication and was texting before the accident, a Texas Department of Transportation report shows.
The fresh details surrounding the deeds of 20-year-old Jack Dillon Youthfull on March twenty nine are outlined in the Texas Peace Officer`s Crash Report filed with the Texas Department of Transportation, which was signed by DPS Investigator James D. Jones.
Jones stated the report will remain incomplete until all evidence has been analyzed.
According to a Texas Department of Public Safety affidavit for a search warrant, Youthful stated that he had consumed the prescription medications Clonazepam, Ambien and Lexapro prior to the crash. He also reportedly stated that he was dispelled by his cell phone at the time of the crash.
A DPS investigator cited in the affidavit, Scott Hewitt, said Youthful’s driving prior to the crash could indicate “intoxication by reason of alcohol, a managed substance, a dangerous drug or a combination.”
Hewitt stated that he found medications in the front seat of Youthful’s pickup including twenty nine Zolpidem pills in a bottle, thirty Escitalopram pills in a bottle, an empty bottle of Clonazepam and an empty bottle of Prazosin.
Zolpidem and Escitalopram are the generic forms of Ambien and Lexapro, respectively, according to the affidavit. Clonazepam is also reportedly a depressant with an effect similar to alcohol.
A DPS trooper that Hewitt spoke with also reportedly told him that she found “two utter marijuana cigarettes” and “five partially smoked marijuana cigarettes” in the center console of Youthful’s pickup truck. However, it was not clear whether Youthfull was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash.
The affidavit also states Youthfull could face manslaughter charges once his phone records are analyzed.
Youthful was caught on camera by another driver on March twenty nine swerving in and out of his lane before ramming into a bus that was carrying fourteen members of Fresh Braunfels Very first Baptist Church. Youthful and only one person on the bus were the only survivors in the collision.
The affidavit also states Youthful did not perform a standard field sobriety test due to injuries he had sustained during the crash.
There was also reportedly no evidence of an open container in Youthful’s vehicle.
This is a developing story and KENS five will you keep you updated on as more information is released.
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