RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Joseph Anthony Garcia pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon for his involvement in a school bus crash last month.
As SBFpreviously reported, on Oct. 20, Garcia drove his Chevrolet HHR underneath a freeway overpass and parked. He then attempted to climb the fence on the overpass and when he could not get over the fence, he climbed into his car and drove the wrong way onto the freeway exit and crashed head-on into the bus in an apparent suicide attempt.
According to City News Service, Garcia had eight previously scheduled arraignments, but he didn’t appear for any of them. He has been in a detention ward since his arrest following the accident, and doctors there refused to clear him to leave the hospital because of his injuries.
Therefore, Riverside County Superior Court Judge James T. Warren scheduled arraignment for Wednesday morning at the medical center, and Garcia pleaded not guilty to the multiple felony charges.
Warren appointed a public defender to represent Garcia and set a felony settlement conference for Nov. 30, City News Service reports.
Man pleads not guilty to charges stemming from bus crash
Joseph Anthony Garcia faces eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon for ramming the bus head-on in an apparent suicide attempt last month. The judge presiding over the case appoints a public defender to represent Garcia and sets a felony settlement conference for Nov. 30.
More Safety
New York 5-Year-Old Killed by School Bus, Investigation Ongoing
A Rockland County child was struck by their school bus late last week. Here's what we know so far about this and other fatalities and injuries in the area over the years.
Read More →
Prevent School Bus Dragging Incidents: Anti-Pinch Door Sensors and Maine’s New Mandate
As Maine becomes one of the first states to require anti-pinch door sensors on new school buses, manufacturers like Mayser offer a look at how the technology works and why it's a critical fail-safe.
Read More →
8 Ways To Simplify and Streamline School Bus Fleet Operations
What if your fleet technology actually worked together? Learn eight practical strategies to integrate multiple systems into one platform, unlocking clearer insights, stronger safety standards, and smoother daily operations.
Read More →
Survey: Most Parents Want Automated Enforcement on School Buses
A recent Verra Mobility survey reports that 82% of parents support safety cameras to penalize stop-arm violators and 70% favor automated enforcement in school zones.
Read More →
State Grant Program Advances School Bus Safety Upgrades Across Ohio
$10 million in state grants will fund safety upgrades and new features on school buses serving students across the Buckeye State.
Read More →
Waymo Scrutiny Intensifies as NTSB Launches Investigation
After complications in multiple cities when self-driving taxis failed to stop for school buses, the NTSB joins NHTSA in a probe to determine what's behind the tech and related safety concerns.
Read More →
Transportant Debuts First Full-Color Stop Arm Camera for School Buses
Transportant introduced a next-generation stop arm camera designed to improve image quality and reliability for documenting illegal school bus passings.
Read More →
3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers
Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
Read More →
New Mexico District Receives $2.7M Grant to Expand Walking School Bus Programs
See how a federal grant will help Albuquerque Public Schools expand supervised walking routes and improve student safety.
Read More →
Florida Inventor Creates Retractable 10-Foot Stop-Arm
A newly developed school bus safety device introduces a retractable barrier designed to deter illegal passing during student loading and unloading.
Read More →