7°c Clear
N/A°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Driver in deadly bus crash acquitted
NEW YORK -- A tour bus driver who prosecutors said was all but asleep at the wheel was acquitted Friday of manslaughter and negligent homicide in a crash last year that killed 15 gamblers on their way from a Connecticut casino to Chinatown in New York City's borough of Queens in March 2011.
Ophadell Williams was found guilty of one count of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. The judge sentenced him to 30 days in prison, which he has served. He also was ordered to pay a fee of $500.
The crash wracked Chinatown, where many of the passengers lived. At the time, about 30,000 Chinese New Yorkers were taking discount buses from Chinatown to casinos each week.
City Coun. Margaret Chin, who represents the neighbourhood, said "justice has not been served in this case."
Williams argued throughout the trial that he had been awake and alert, and the crash was not the result of reckless behaviour or extreme exhaustion. He said a tractor-trailer cut him off, causing him to swerve and hit a guardrail. But investigators could find no indication that had occurred.
His lawyer had said he was wracked with guilt over the crash -- but not guilty of manslaughter.
"It happened as a motor vehicle accident, not as some crime," said Williams' lawyer, Patrick Bruno. "He tried to avoid tragedy and tragedy occurred."
Bruno said the verdict is "saying that if you are going to try and make fatigue -- sleepiness -- a criminal legal issue in a motor vehicle accident, you have a lot, lot more to prove."
Florence Wong, who lost her father, 76-year-old Don Lee, told reporters she still believes Williams is responsible for the lives lost in the accident.
"I do not agree with the jury, but I respect their decision because they did look at the evidence and they came out with a verdict," she said.
Prosecutor Garry Wiel alleged Williams was so sleep-deprived from working another job during the day that it affected his reflexes the same as if he were intoxicated behind the wheel.
-- The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 8, 2012 A24
More FP News Top Story
- Back to Top
- Return to FP News Top Story
More FP News Top Story
(1 of 43 articles for this week)
Duffy expense controversy sent back to closed-door Senate committee
05/21/2013 10:02 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular FP News Top Story
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- New book, film search for answers on China's secret salvaging of sunken British submarine
- Family will claim older Boston bombing suspect's body, uncle says as investigation deepens
- Study finds mentally ill more likely to be arrested, harmed by police
- Federal government runs $1.6B surplus for February compared with $1.5B year ago
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- Roughriders add experience as they prepare to host the 2013 Grey Cup
- NDP Leader Mulcair says cops wanted to talk to him about meeting with Vaillancourt
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- In unusual pattern, Oklahoma tornado tracked path of 1999 monster twister with record winds
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Car bomb at French Embassy in Libyan capital wounds 3 in latest sign of deepening lawlessness
- First lady: Jobs program has led to training or hiring of 290,000 veterans, military spouses
- A closer look at the 3 new game consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony
- Pressure grows to improve human rights for transgender people in Newfoundland
- Sens-Habs series gets ugly:Eric Gryba suspended two games for Lars Eller hit
- ESPN says it regrets that reporter described gay NBA player Collins as a sinner
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- Census 2011 makes history: population in the West surpasses that in the East
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- As Boston mourns, suspected brothers' radicalism comes into focus
- Car bomb at French Embassy in Libyan capital wounds 3 in latest sign of deepening lawlessness
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Still no winner for $50 million Lotto Max jackpot, but Manitoba has a $1 million winner
- Elections Canada wants greater punishment powers in wake of robocalls debacle
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.