Court case delayed for driver in fatal AISD bus accident

ATHENS — A court appearance for the driver of an Athens ISD bus involved in a fatal accident with a train has been postponed. John Franklin Stevens, 80, is charged with criminal negligent homicide and injury to a child. According to our news partner KETK, authorities believe Stevens pulled onto railroad tracks and the bus was hit by a train on January 25, 2019. Christopher Bonilla, 13, a passenger on the bus, was killed. An elementary school student, Josylynn Torres, 9, was injured in the crash. Stevens has entered a plea of not guilty.

Stevens originally was set to appear in court April 7. The status hearing court date is now June 7. The date was postponed after the Texas Attorney General’s Office took over prosecution. Henderson County District Attorney Jenny Palmer, requested that she be recused from the case, citing conflict of interest.