A West Virginia school bus driver who was found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol after the vehicle he was operating flipped over, caused a collision, and injured more than a dozen students faces a severe charge.
After entering a guilty plea to three counts of driving under the influence of alcohol that caused bodily injury and sixteen counts of child neglect that created a risk of serious bodily injury or death, Jeffrey Brannon, at the age of 54, was sentenced on Thursday, as stated in the news report.
Brannon was reportedly given a sentence ranging from 22 to 110 years in prison by Judge Anita Harold Ashley, with each of the sentences for each victim being served in a sequential manner.
Nineteen students who were participating in after-school programming were taken to the hospital as a result of the rollover accident that took place along South Calhoun Highway in March of 2024. Brannon’s blood alcohol level was recorded at.127 percent, which is three times higher than the legal limit of.04 percent for commercial driver’s license holders, according to the article. State Police stated that Brannon reached this level.
Kevin Wilson, just 14 years old at the time of the accident, was one of the students who sustained injuries, and as a result of his severe injuries, his leg was amputated. The sentencing hearing featured statements from a number of students who were on board the bus at the time of the incident, as well as family members of those who were injured.
