Trial for driver in deadly bus crash begins Monday
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The trial for a church bus driver charged in a deadly crash last summer is scheduled to start Monday.
Charles Goodman has been charged with reckless homicide, driving while suspended and causing death while intoxicated.
Goodman was driving members from a church in Gary to a conference in Ohio last July when police say he drove off I-70 in Greenfield and hit two trees. The bus flipped and started on fire.
Six-year-old Jacob Williams was killed. Ten people, including Goodman, were hurt. According to court documents, Goodman was charged with causing death when operating while intoxicated after a toxicology report showed he had traces of cocaine in his system at the time of the crash.
Goodman told 24-Hour News 8 that the bus has suspension and power steering problems and was overheating.
According to 24-Hour News 8’s partner, The Daily Reporter, Goodman has been charged three times for destroying county property inside the jail including a TV.
The newspaper reports that the jail filed a formal request to have him transferred to state prison because of his unruly behavior.