SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Semi Driver Allegedly Overmedicated Before Crashing Into School Bus

Wayne Edward Murphy allegedly takes nearly twice the prescribed dosage of anti-anxiety medication before he crashes into a school bus in Wisconsin. The crash injures 20 people aboard.

June 7, 2018
2 min to read


COLUMBIA COUNTY, Wis. — A criminal complaint alleges that a semi driver had been taking nearly twice the prescribed dosage of anti-anxiety medication before crashing into a school bus, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The complaint stated that on May 23, a HOPE Semper Christian Schools bus was headed to the Wisconsin Dells for a field trip when the semi crashed into the rear of the bus, according to the newspaper. The bus was parked on the shoulder of the road due to mechanical problems. Twenty people aboard were injured, four of them seriously.

Wayne Edward Murphy of Indianapolis, Indiana, a driver for Dahl Trucking, was “all over the road” before the crash, according to the complaint, and couldn’t tell deputies why the semi veered off the road before hitting the bus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Murphy told deputies that he took one-and-a-half Sertraline pills about two-and-a-half hours before the crash, but the label on the pill bottle said to take one pill daily. The label also said that the medication can cause drowsiness and advised caution when operating a vehicle while consuming the medication. The complaint also said that deputies found a bottle of Xanax prescribed to Murphy in the semi, and determined he had taken about twice the prescribed dosage, according to the newspaper.

Murphy failed a field sobriety test before being taken to a hospital for a blood draw, the complaint stated, and was arrested for operating while intoxicated. According to the complaint and the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Murphy was charged on Wednesday with five counts of injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle and five counts of second-degree reckless injury, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

To read the full story, go here.

More Safety

Row of yellow school buses with overlay text reading “The essential guide to school bus fleet maintenance: Maximizing safety and uptime” and the Geotab logo.
SponsoredApril 1, 2026

The Essential Guide to School Bus Maintenance: Maximizing Safety and Uptime

Stop reacting to engine lights and start predicting them. This guide reveals how transitioning from a "break-fix" model to a data-driven maintenance strategy can drastically reduce fleet downtime and protect your district's budget. Learn how to transform your garage operations from a cost center into a reliability powerhouse.

Read More →
A close-up view of the top of a yellow school bus with “School Bus” signage and red lights, overlaid with a cracked-glass effect. Text on the image reads, “Multi-Vehicle Crash in TN Takes 2 Lives” and “March 27, 2026,” with the School Bus Fleet logo in the corner.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsMarch 31, 2026

2 Students Die in Tennessee School Bus Crash with Dump Truck

A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County.

Read More →
A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a stop-arm gate and text reading "Legislative Roundup March 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMarch 30, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: Stop-Arm Enforcement, EV Mandates & Seat Belts

From North Dakota public charter school regulations, tracking illegal school bus passing consequences in multiple states, and the continued debate on New York’s electric school bus mandate, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
hopskipdrive whitepaper
SponsoredMarch 30, 2026

Boosting K-12 Attendance With Innovative Transportation Solutions

While the yellow school bus remains the backbone of student transit, 75% of administrators identify limited transportation access as a major driver of chronic absenteeism. This guide explores how districts are strengthening their fleets by integrating flexible, supplemental solutions to serve students with the most complex needs. Learn how a multimodal approach can bridge service gaps, restore attendance, and support your most vulnerable populations.

Read More →
Close-up of a school bus stop-arm camera mounted on the side of a yellow bus, used to record drivers who illegally pass while students board or exit.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMarch 27, 2026

Michigan District Rolls Out New Stop-Arm Program

Grand Rapids Public Schools is partnering up with BusPatrol and Dean Transportation to outfit the entire bus fleet with cameras.

Read More →
An orange and white graphic with Safety Vision's logo and text reading "Report Shows Growing Impact of AI-Powered Video."
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsMarch 26, 2026

Safety Vision Report Highlights Growing Impact of AI-Powered Video on Fleet Safety

New research finds intelligent video systems are reducing crashes, lowering insurance costs, and reshaping safety strategies across school transportation fleets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
zonar system image
SponsoredMarch 24, 2026

12 Ways To Do More Without Blowing Your Fleet’s Budget

Driver shortages and rising costs are straining already stretched school transportation budgets. Learn 12 practical strategies that help school bus fleets be more efficient, control costs, strengthen compliance, and protect student riders…all by using fleet technology that could pay for itself within a year.

Read More →
Automated external defibrillator (AED) mounted on a wall inside a manufacturing facility, highlighting workplace emergency preparedness and safety equipment availability.
Safetyby Nicole DamronMarch 24, 2026

Should School Buses Have AEDs? OEM’s New Safety Investment Sparks Discussion

A growing push to expand AED access is raising a key question for the school bus industry.

Read More →
An aerial image showing the final resting positions of a 2024 Illinois school bus crash with a tractor trailer.
Safetyby Elora HaynesMarch 24, 2026

New NTSB Investigation Report Highlights Driver Impairment and Medical Requirements

The recent investigative report found driver impairment and fatigue from prescription medications led to a fatal school bus crash in 2024.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An orange and white graphic with the cover of HopSkipDrive's 2025 Safety Report and text reading "Seventh Annual Safety Report."
Safetyby StaffMarch 18, 2026

What’s Behind HopSkipDrive’s Near-Perfect Safety Record in 2025?

The alternative transportation provider’s 2025 Safety Report highlights 99.7% incident-free rides, 130 million safe miles, and more.

Read More →