Ophadell Williams, Driver in Horrific Bus Crash, Faces Federal Investigation

Mar 16, 2011, 06:45

Ophadell Williams was behind the wheel of the bus that crashed last week in the Bronx, killing 15 passengers.
Federal investigators are now focusing on what the bus driver was doing in the days leading up to the crash.

Vice Chairman Christopher Hart of the National Transportation Safety Board told WCBS-TV in New York that investigators want to know everything Ophadell Williams, 40, did during the 72 hours before the Saturday accident.

"We're hearing so many stories, conflicting oftentimes, and we need to get to the bottom of that," Hart said.

Federal investigators planned to interview Williams Tuesday.

In his initial statements after the crash, Williams said the World Wide Tours bus he was driving was clipped by a tractor-trailer truck, causing him to lose control and sending the bus skidding into a highway sign post.

The post sliced the top off the bus.

Witnesses said they had seen the bus swerving on and off the road just before the crash.

It was later learned that Williams had a criminal record with several convictions including manslaughter, driving with a suspended license and grand larceny.

Source: UPI