School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Prosecutors Allege School Bus Driver in Fatal Tennessee Crash Was on Phone

New information indicates that the driver in the November 2016 Chattanooga crash took a phone call at the time, prosecutors say.

December 20, 2017
Prosecutors Allege School Bus Driver in Fatal Tennessee Crash Was on Phone

New information indicates Johnthony Walker, the school bus driver charged in a fatal November 2016 crash, took a phone call at the time, prosecutors say. Photo courtesy Chattanooga Fire Department

2 min to read


New information indicates Johnthony Walker, the school bus driver charged in a fatal November 2016 crash, took a phone call at the time, prosecutors say. Photo courtesy Chattanooga Fire Department

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Prosecutors alleged on Tuesday that new information indicates a school bus driver charged in connection with a November 2016 crash that killed six children took a phone call at the time, Chattanooga Times Free Press reports.

As previously reported, Johnthony Walker allegedly was speeding and lost control of his bus, which left the road and hit a utility pole, overturned, and crashed into a tree, causing the roof of the bus to collapse inward. In addition to the fatalities, 31 children were injured in the crash, and Walker received minor injuries. He was indicted on six counts of vehicular homicide, and was also charged with four counts of reckless aggravated assault, one count of reckless endangerment, one count of reckless driving, and one count of use of a portable electronic device by a school bus driver.

The updated information comes from the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB's) review of Walker's phone records, Melydia Clewell, spokeswoman for District Attorney General Neal Pinkston, told the newspaper. Pinkston said in court that Walker received a call at 3:17 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2016, which lasted nearly four minutes. He added that the first 911 call about the crash came in at 3:20 p.m., according to Chattanooga Times Free Press. According to previous testimony in December 2016, Walker had his phone out on the bus at some point, but until Tuesday, prosecutors had not alleged when or how Walker used the device, the newspaper reports.

The NTSB’s report may change as officers make suggestions internally. NTSB spokesman Christopher O’Neil told Chattanooga Times Free Press last week that the NTSB will vote to release the final report at a public hearing, which is tentatively scheduled between April and June.

Judge Don Poole said no phone records will come into evidence until attorneys have a hearing on the issue. He scheduled the hearing for Feb. 5, according to the newspaper. Walker is scheduled to stand trial on Feb. 27.

To read the full story, go here.

More Safety

Graphic promoting Geotab’s new fleet investigation tool, featuring a screenshot of the MyGeotab platform showing an incident timeline, vehicle activity, and mapped route data.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseSeptember 1, 2026

Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents

Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.

Read More →
Cover of a Pro-Vision whitepaper titled “Doing More With Less: A Transportation Director’s Guide to Managing Safety Budget Uncertainty,” featuring school buses, a school transportation scene, and safety technology imagery.
SponsoredAugust 27, 2026

Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty

With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.

Read More →
Avigilon camera installation at Hamilton Township School District, New Jersey, with text reading "How to Build a More Secure School Bus Yard."
Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 25, 2026

How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours

As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic featuring FMCSA Chief Safety Officer Steve Dowling alongside the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration logo and U.S. Department of Transportation seal.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 20, 2026

FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know

Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.

Read More →
Graphic reading “School Zone Speed Programs Work” beside a school zone speed limit 20 sign with flashing warning lights, featuring Verra Mobility and School Bus Fleet logos.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseAugust 20, 2026

New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%

A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.

Read More →
Graphic promoting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2026 National Roadway Safety Strategy, featuring the report cover and the text “A New Roadmap for Roadway Safety.”
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 20, 2026

What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?

The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Waymo’s fully autonomous legacy Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan at a crosswalk with a red overlay and text reading "Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?"
Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 11, 2026

Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?

NHTSA is accelerating autonomous vehicle deployment through new safety standards and commercial approvals. See why school transportation leaders are watching.

Read More →
Graphic promoting a school bus safety public service announcement featuring NFL Hall of Famer Lomas Brown. The graphic shows Brown speaking in front of a stopped school bus with students crossing in a video displayed on a laptop screen, alongside the headline, "Lomas Brown Says: 'No Rushing Around the School Bus,'" and the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 10, 2026

NFL Star Lomas Brown Kicks Off New Illegal School Bus Passing PSA

Just in time for the back-to-school season, the former Detroit Lions offensive tackle took time to record a video encouraging motorists to slow down around school buses.

Read More →
Graphic titled "NSC Award Winners" featuring two group photos of National Safety Council award recipients. One group holds an "Our Driving Concern Employer Traffic Safety Award" banner, while the other poses with a recognition plaque at the 2026 Texas Traffic Safety Conference.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettAugust 4, 2026

How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs

Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Read More →