A seasoned, now former school bus driver in Utah faces federal and state arson prices after allegedly lighting his faculty bus on hearth with dozens of youngsters on board.
In keeping with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, Michael Austin Ford, 58, of West Valley Metropolis was indicted by a grand jury in February, and was detained on Friday, after authorities accused him of setting a college bus on hearth on two separate events.
Police mentioned Ford, who was a Granite College District bus driver for 25 years, allegedly began the fireplace with an “incendiary source.”
Authorities mentioned in a single incident, a minimum of 42 kids have been on board the bus when Ford allegedly began the blaze and stored driving.
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A former faculty bus driver in Utah was arrested after he was accused of setting a college bus on hearth on two events. (U.S. District Court docket of Utah)
Ford allegedly used an ignition system to begin the fireplace and continued to drive the bus whereas smoke billowed to the place the handfuls of youngsters sat within the again.
“Undeterred by the smoke, the Defendant only stops the bus when children are seen and heard on video coughing, covering their faces, and complaining about smoke,” prosecutors mentioned in courtroom paperwork.
Officials said that the incident was captured on video.
Authorities alleged that Michael Ford began a fireplace two instances inside a Granite College District bus. (Granite College District)
Over a 12 months later, in April 2023, Ford was once more driving a Granite College District bus in site visitors when he allegedly ignited a fireplace on the bus.
Once more, Ford continued to drive the bus with smoke billowing previous his face.
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Prosecutors mentioned Ford tried to tamper with the bus surveillance system within the days earlier than the second hearth.
Days later, Ford was arrested by Granite College Police and questioned in regards to the hearth however was launched, in accordance with the prosecutor’s workplace.
Ford was arrested once more on felony state prices in October 2023, in accordance with a Utah docket report.
Michael Ford was charged with two counts of arson of a car of a corporation receiving federal funds. (U.S. District Court docket of Utah)
Ford was charged with two counts of arson of a car of a corporation receiving federal funds, prosecutors mentioned.
Ford has been ordered detained forward of his federal trial, set for April 29, in Salt Lake City.
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Authorities didn’t disclose a motive behind the incidents.
The Granite College District and the prosecutor’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
