A driver has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for rear-ending a stopped school bus with children on board.
Shannon Ford was driving an unloaded log truck with his wife in the cab when he failed to brake and hit a school bus with 15 students on board. The bus was stopped, it had the stop arm extended, and its lights were flashing. At the time of the crash, Ford’s wife was naked in the cab, though she claims she wasn’t wearing clothes because she was too hot.
Ford was charged with four counts of reckless driving with serious bodily injury and pled no contest to the charges.
At his sentencing hearing however, Ford told the judge that he blamed his carrier, Mo’s Trucking, for not properly maintaining the truck. A highway patrol officer who had conducted an inspection on the truck the day of the accident testified that eight of the 10 brakes on the truck were defective and that it was dangerous for the truck to be on the road.
The testimony did not appear to sway the judge however, who also heard from the driver of the school bus and the families of the children who were injured. The emotional testimonies recounted how close the families came to losing their children and the dreams which a few will have to give up. The mother of one small boy told the court that her son who suffered from an open skull fracture would no longer be able to play football or join the Marine Corps.
Ford received a sentence of 5 years for each of the four counts of reckless driving with serious bodily injury, each count to be served consecutively.
Source: cbs12, actionnewsjax, news4jax
Mark Albert says
Why didnt the officer take this rig out of service? I hope he is held accountable as well as the teucking company and the driver. All of them failed to do their job correctly!
Troy says
He did the inspection the day of the accident. Let me explain. There was an accident…The officer showed up. There were injurys. That requires an inspection of the vehicle. The officer at that time determined there were violations. I’m pretty sure aftee the logging truck crashed into the back of a school bus IT WAS OUT OF SERVICE!!
Bill says
It is very possible the inspection of the brake system took place after the accident not before. If it was before you are correct the right should have been put out of service. However in an accident investigation brakes are thoroughly inspected after the incident thus the officer would carry no responsibility.
Spike says
Because the officer inspected the rig after the wreck as part of a post accident procedure.
Doug says
Obvious question is why if inspected by the State Patrol Officer the day of the incident was the truck not automatically put “out of service” until safe to drive? Or was it driven regardless of any sanction of the Trooper? If it was not “out of service” by order of the Trooper isn’t this a strong point of interest?
Sean S Shaw says
It was a post accident inspection
J Ossowski says
If the inspector felt “it was dangerous for the truck to be on the road”, why did he let it drive away? If that many brakes “were defective” (no explanation of exactly how), there were, no doubt, other problems with the truck. I’m not trying to mitigate the driver’s responsibility, just asking why the inspector let a truck he knew was unsafe proceed down the road.
Charlie says
It really doesn’t make it clear when it was inspected. Before or after the accident.
Sean S Shaw says
You know there is an inspection after any commercial vehicle accident involving injuries. It only stands to reason, that since the truck was operating at the time of the accident, it was a post accident inspection.
John Hickman says
You notice the officer didn’t show up to trail because it wasn’t true he lied he never would have been let go until brakes are fix
Jerry says
Yes. He. Did it. States. That. He testified
Steve says
Go home hickman.you got a habit of not knowing that facts.I can tell first hand that a lot of those logging companies have mis-managed equipment.Also you have NOT seen the full report of the police investigation.I’m a driver myself and I have seen my share of unroad worthy trucks on the roads that need to be shut down.And yes,including log trucks.These are the companies and drivers of such equipment who DO NOT care about yours or my safety.I would hate to see your DAC report.
Justin says
i work for a carrier company and if any of our trucks were to have that many ” defective brakes” DOT would give it an OOS (out of service) until the brakes were properly adjusted by a certified mechanic and signed off…..But agree it does not justify the actions that took place by the driver or his spouse. just simply why the DOT is not being held accountable for its lack of company policy and procedures
Steve says
Justin,why put the blame on the law enforcement.That driver should not have moved that truck in the first place knowing he had defective brakes.He was 100%at fault for driving defective equipment as well as allowing that useless woman to be naked in the truck(indecent exposure is against law)she needs to be charged accordingly with serious jail time,1-2yrs of jail will do,since she was the cause of his distracted driving which lead to the crash.those parents need to sue all parties,driver,girl friend, and company.
Mike says
Steve I really was with you right until you the women was useless. Because first of all you don’t even no the women in the first place but seeing how she was naked in the truck your going to call her useless.to me that make anything you say pretty pointless because you have already proven yourself to being and idiot with that stupid statement.
mama_bear says
Exactly. He drove that truck knowing it was not safe putting other people at risk.
Mason Butler says
Totally Right! NO DRIVER should ever move any vehicle if she or he deems it unsafe to any degree! No matter what the company says,EEOC will stand with and for you,the driver,as long as you have proof of the safety violations! Take pictures and send emails!
Me says
Exactly
WCB says
It never says the inspector let the driver, drive off in the truck. With the description of the harm done, I’m sure the truck was towed away.
Professional says
If the driver knew about the bad maintenance on the truck then he should not have drove it in the first place. The driver is responsible for a proper vehicle inspection at the beginning of his clock.
Steve says
Professional, you are spot on
Ray says
And….. if he knew it was not safe to operate, certified it, and drove the vehicle anyway…. That’s false certification on the inspection and his daily log.
Sean S Shaw says
Professional, finally someone putting blame where it should be. We need to stop letting these companies play with our license and lives. No amount of money is worth killing someone, yourself, or going to jail. He could have spent the day at home playing with mama. Or looking for a better company.
JJ says
Driver have you ever really noticed how many drivers do a pretrip everyday …I mean most put the time in for it but actually doing the pretrip themselves not many do. I was even asked by a driver when I was pretrip ping my truck n trailer the other day if something was wrong…lol..he admitted I don’t really do a pretrip, just thunks the tires now and then.
ODPD says
This is how companies are destroyed and end, with or without litigation. On any given day, at any given time, a few semi’s barreling into school buses and mayhem insures following, along with fatalities, you as the driver and your carrier are toast in the eyes of the public. Albeit this was a small mom-n-pop business with a less than stellar driver, and clear safety violations and issues, had it been a major carrier, there would have been major adverse and negative implications such as horrible public relations and excessive press coverage tainting the trucking company (perhaps deservingly). I call it public shaming and it’s sometimes necessary to bring light and attention to the trucking company because of how they manage and operate their business. The brakes on the truck were insufficient. The driver and owner should have never allowed that unit out on the road. Sadly, these kids had their futures ruined because of negligence. BTW, the first comment above should be removed if only simply because its inflammatory stupidity. Administration should monitor these remarks more closely and carefully. We need to police our commentary with scrutiny.
Steve says
ODPD,I am with all the way.Amen.drivers like that are usually not that safe on our highways and/or just doesn’t care about the safety or respect to others.his time WILL come soon enough sadly.
crapola says
Are you all that ignorant. The truck was inspected after the crash, the same day.
Justin says
it just says the same day but it does not specify before or after. so i can see where the confusion for people could be.
Troy says
Really? YOU CAN? CONFUSION? HOLY CRAP!
Rod Parkinson says
Reading some of the comments here is solid proof that truck driving is no longer a honorable profession. After 48 yr’s in the business and no accidents I am relieved that I am now retired and sad that I would not consider admitting to being a long distance truck driver to anyone I didn’t know !!
Dave daddy says
Doesn’t matter when, driver should have pre-trip and not driven until fixed.
Tony says
Well I don’t think the driver should have went to jail that long. The judge was too harsh. I believe the judge has personal feelings against truck drivers. There’s a lot of discrimination and dislike with truck drivers today.
Steve says
Tony,that driver seriously injured at least one child on that bus.Not only did he violate the law with unsafe equipment but he also allowed his dumb ass girlfriend the get nude in the truck and that as well is against the law.5yrs for each count is justified.The girlfriend needs to share some that time as well.There is absolutely NO discrimination at all.Now with that being said.If that was my child with that extent of head injuries.that derived would not be safe on the streets!!!!!
Janie says
Yep.
Me says
How many times did he hit that bus ? Did he back up and hit it again three more times ?
Ed says
he hit the bus once. Four children were seriously injured, hence the four counts of reckless driving with serious bodily injury.
Troy says
So a guy goes into a movie theater and shoots 60 people. HEY IT WAS JUST 1 MOVIE THEATRE..
WCB says
The charges are for each individual that was harmed, not for how many times the bus was hit.
Steve says
Wake the hell up and pay attention to to report.
Groo says
his guilt about causing the accident is not mitigated by bad brakes. If it isn’t safe to drive, it is his responsibility to not drive until it is fixed.
What I don’t get is why didn’t she get dressed immediately?
Troy says
Responsibility ALWAYS falls on the driver. No matter what.
Steve says
There were at least 2 factors that lead up to the crash,1-knowing and admitted to faulty brakes,2-distracted driving(naked girlfriend)both which are against the law.He clearly was in violation of law in both accounts as well as his girlfriend on the second violation
Wesley Cory says
Sounds like a bunch of morons on here today who don’t have a clue. Driver got off easy in my opinon.
Troy says
I dont know whats worse. The stupid comments or knowing those idiots are actually behind the wheel of a big truck someplace in America.
Mike says
I agree with you
Steve says
Amen to that Mr.Wesley.
Janie says
Harsh sentence. He didn’t kill anyone.
Gee says
The article says an inspection was done after the crash.
Lawrence Draper says
You don’t want to be the driver who hits a school bus. I give them as much room as possible.
Douglas Kirk says
One of our illustrious diesel cops where I live hit a school bus last year. I was amused, to say the least
lady red says
You where amused because a school bus was hit. Be it a cop or big truck or even a car. Would you have felt that way if you had family on that bus
Moron
D Holmes says
That driver admitted to driving the truck with faulty brakes. It’s HIS responsibility when he decided to drive it that way. What was he thinking anyway? Well when I can’t stop I’ll just blame the company???? Really!
HalfNormal says
Dem log haulers is Crazy anywho i can’t count the times they passed my rig at 70 mph. Oh i get it time is money, but SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT.
Subrogation says
At first I was upset with the driver, still am to a degree for making drivers look bad, but then I re-read the article and thought: What if the guy was telling the truth? It’s unfortunate, but accidents DO happen and twenty years is a lot of time. It seems a technicality screwed the guy at sentencing where a state prosecutor tripled the offense. He recieved “four counts” for one accident. Doesn’t seem right.
Steve says
He received 4 counts for 4 injured kids.some of you just don’t get it!!!!!!!furthermore a lot of you are forgetting what lead up to the distracted driving.the GIRLFRIEND,hello.and I agree 100%that the truck should have never been moved.
Anon E. Mouse says
While the driver certainly needs to be held accountable, this is definitely excessive punishment. To me, something more appropriate would be a brief jail term, a fine, extensive community service, and some kind of binding agreement to donate a portion of his income to a charity (or charities) selected by the victims and their families. Twenty years in jail will probably turn this otherwise (probably) more-or-less law-abiding citizen into a full-fledged criminal, not to mention the cost to the taxpayers for his upkeep while in prison. It just doesn’t make sense.
Steve says
Law abiding my ass,he allowed his girlfriend to be in the truck naked(against the law)he was in total violation of the law in more ways than one.
Will says
It would make more sense if it was your kid who got hurt. The guys is an idiot. Driving a faulty truck is dumb enough, but diddling the old lady while driving beats all. He clearly wasn’t paying any attention or all the flashing red lights would have gotten his pants up.
Subrogation says
It didn’t say they were having sex, it said she was hot. I agree it would make sense if you were going off emotional reasoning of a grieving parent, or willing to substitute assumptions to connect dots. To hell with impartiality or fairness! Many rapists and murderers don’t pull that amount of time. It’s tragic that children were hurt and even more tragic that apparently intelligent human beings can turn into an emotional angry mob whenever a situation like this happens twenty years is egregious.
Jo Blow says
Ok so he was probably not paying attention to the road. He must have thought he deserved what he got too.
But most of you have probably never drove a log truck. They are not well maintained. And there is no “not” driving it because of that. You either drive it and keep your job or don’t and look for work elsewhere. Bad breaks, shorts in the wiring, air leaks and bad tires are all industry standards with log trucking.
When you find a well maintained log truck to drive… Congratulations on buying your own truck!
Fozzy says
So log truck drivers are cowardly and or not professional or both?
Steve says
With that, the exact reason I will not be caught dead in a log truck.
Besides the driver can technically red flag the truck and whoever they’re working for can’t rightfully fire them for it
Steve says
You just opened a can of worms with the DOT on your stubip comment.I will look forward to seeing you and many other loggers who think like you about NOT having to maintain safe equipment.You WILL GET CAUGHT and I hope they put you and your company OOS with stiff fines.see you in court JoBlow$$$$$$$
Ray Arends says
How long has he been married? If the two love birds have been married over five years, nudity probably wasn’t a cause of the accident. It doesn’t take long to realize brakes are bad, even in an empty log truck. Old lady’s nudity is media attention grab.
Larry says
Wow. I was taught to inspect daily, at least when you hook up. One bad thing note, get job done get it in shop. M
Half your brakes not working? NO LOAD take it easy to shop.
8 out of 10. It’s parked. Now we’re the brakes just not adjusted to where inspector liked? I don’t know.
Rick says
Hmmm why didn’t the driver catch the defective brakes during his pre-trip inspection? Just throwing that out there.
T B says
Why is it that a school bus can just stop in the middle of a busy road, it should only be allowed to stop off of the road and only the kids that live on that side of the road can get off the bus! Drivers today of all vehicles have no smarts how to drive with safety as their main goal. I am so glad that my kids never went on a school bus. The judge was more upset at the wife being naked more then anything! Also at what point did the bus driver start yellow lights to warn a driver that you are about to stop and these buses need better flashing lights like they are doing on some of the new buses and what about seat belts for the kids? How many could have not had injuries if seat belts and high back seats in every bus and the last 3 rows as a buffer zone or cumple zone with no one sitting there? Make a safer bus! Look at everything that truck makers have to do these days so why can’t school buses have the same up dated equipment in safety or how 4 wheelers are made today? Nope lets throw the book at him because his wife had no close on! I enjoyed it a lot when my wife had nothing on in the truck or our own vehicles but we always had safety 1st! She just looked very sexy and tan all summer and the other drivers enjoyed to!!
Steve says
You are just as guilty as he for allowing just that.Don’t let me catch you!!!!
tammy says
I am kinda wondering about the naked wife! I bet she was a hefer if she was that hot and had to have her clothes off. Lol!!!
P.s. that company is going to be sued like crazy. Can you say ! Going out of business in that name!.
Steve says
I surely hope so.by the comments of other loggers that company should be shut down permanently to send a message,NO MORE.if anything,she must be one nasty skank.
Eddie says
The article doesn’t mention, if the driver even attempted to brake or not? Were there any clear indications of tire skid marks, indicating that he made a reasonable attempt in trying to avoid hitting the bus? Or did he hit the bus without ever applying his brakes at all?
Jay says
I’m confused at the confusion. After the accident the police did the inspection. The problem I have here is as follows. Why blame anyone besides the driver. If the equipment isn’t right don’t drive it. Blame the company for what ? They have equipment that shouldn’t be on the road. Ok. That’s not a crime. When a driver takes it on the road it is. I must be missing something here. Jus saying. B safe. God bless.
Steve says
The driver is 100% responsible for a complete inspection.He admitted to the bad brakes,which means he should have never moved that truck.now with that being said,if the company would have fired him for refusal to drive the truck then he would have the company in court for wrongfull dismissal.So now,both he and the company are held liable for allowing that truck to be on the road.The law is clear on that.and if YOU don’t understand this then you have a bigger problem then him
Bill says
If the driver had done a proper Pre-Trip inspection of the truck, he would not be in this situation. Also, did he have permission from the company for his wife to ride-along? The officer inspected the truck post/after the accident, which is required by law.
Frank says
-The company should be investigated thoroughly. While it’s truck drivers responsibility to refuse to drive unsafe equipment; a company who pushes truck drivers in lieu of safety should be charged as an accomplice to the crime and be punished accordingly.
Woodstock says
Was the fashion police called in?What does the wife being naked have to do with anything? Was the driver wearing flip-flops and fingerless gloves. Lol
Steve says
The wife was in violation of the law”indecent exposure”and “public nudity”both which are punishable up to a year in jail.She was the DISTRACTION.If you going to drive a truck or car even you had better be more professional than that or stay the hell home!!!!
will says
Well did anyone forget the elephant in the room, the naked woman in the truck. Talk about distracted driving, hope it was worth the time he is gonna serve
Brandon says
Nobody here is getting it. It doesnt matter if inspected or not! Its his fault because he never even applied the brakes…. he was probably looking at his naked wife and not paying attention.
Gloria says
It was his WIFE don’t u read and if he is a professional like he’s suppose to b NOTHING should have distracted him and he’s the one who drives the truck he should know the condition of it and only drive if safe.BE A PROFESSIONAL
MamaBear says
I have issues with kids and families being brought into court to “testify” when they weren’t there! Yes, lots if emotional issues. But do that AFTER sentencing. A ruling should be based on facts since it wasn’t a jury trial.
Also,
Faulty doesn’t necessarily mean out of adjustment. I can adjust my truck and trailer breaks, but heat stress cracks, glazing, uneven wear, those are harder to spot on a PTI. I had to fight tooth and nail to get my truck breaks examined when we got assigned a “new” truck because they didn’t feel right. Finally got the wheels off and they found the pads were glazed mirror smooth and the drums were heat cracked. Those are nearly impossible to find during a PTI. And many log trucks are DAYCABS. So you may not have the same truck every day to know what feels normal or not.