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.
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.
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 →
