Video Transcript
REST OF THE WEEK. .
CONTINUING COVERAGE. . AS
WE HEAD TO BASTROP COUNTY THIS
MORNING . . .
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
CASE AGAINST A TRUCK DRIVER
ACCUSED OF CAUSING A DEADLY HAYS
CISD BUS CRASH IN BASTROP LAST
SPRING
THE MAN BEHIND THE WHEEL OF
A CEMENT TRUCK WHEN IT STRUCK A
SCHOOL BUS HAS ACCEPTED A PLEA
DEAL.
.
JERRY HERNANDEZ ENTERED A
GUILTY PLEA ON MANSLAUGHTER
CHARGES AND FACES 18 YEARS IN
PRISON
IN MARCH OF 2024 --
PROSECUTORS SAY HERNANDEZ WAS
DRIVING A CONCRETE PUMPER TRUCK
THAT SWERVED INTO A HAYS CISD
BUS ON STATE HIGHWAY 21.
.
THAT BUS WAS CARRYING TOM
GREEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
HOME FROM A FIELD TRIP
FIVE-YEAR-OLD ULISES
RODRIGUEZ MONTOYA, WHO WAS ON
THE BUS, AND 33-YEAR-OLD RYAN
WALLACE, A PH.D. STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
WHO WAS DRIVING BEHIND IT, BOTH
DIED.
HERNANDEZ WAS INDICTED ON
TWO CHARGES OF MANSLAUGHTER AND
TWO CHARGES OF CRIMINALLY
NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE.
YESTERDAY HE PLEAD GUILTY
TO BOTH COUNTS OF MANSLAUGHTER
EACH 18 YEARS--
THE STATE MOVED TO DISMISS
THE OTHER CHARGES.
KVUE SPOKE WITH ATTORNEY
JOSHUA HARRISON, WHO REPRESENTED
THE FAMILY OF AN INJURED CHILD.
WHILE HIS CLIENT )S CIVIL
LAWSUIT WAS RESOLVED, HE
EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR THERE TO
BE HIGHER LIABILITY INSURANCE ON
THESE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.
"WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PARTIES
INJURED AND IN SITUATIONS OF
LOSS OF LIFE LIKE THIS ONE, THE
POLICY LIMITS OF THAT INSURANCE
COVERS THE LIABILITY POLICY CAN
BE EXHAUSTED QUITE QUICKLY."
BUTTED TO
"AND IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE THAT
FAIR COMPENSATION, I DO BELIEVE
THAT, YOU KNOW, MANDATING HIGHER
POLICY LIMITS FOR THESE
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. IT IS A
MUST."
HARRISON ALSO SAYS WE NEED
TO HAVE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY ON
THESE COMPANIES WHO EMPLOY
COMMERCIAL DRIVERS TO ENSURE
THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECKS,
TRAINING, AND HIRING.