Spring Break
Bus crash trial begins today
Proceedings could take more than two weeks, be one of longest in county history
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: Campus News
The trial involving the Oct. 16, 2005 Chippewa Falls High School bus crash, which killed five people including UW-Eau Claire student Branden Atherton, begins today.
Semi driver Michael Kozlowski, 24, of Schereville, Ind. is charged with five felony counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, seven felony counts of causing great bodily harm by reckless driving and 21 misdemeanor counts of causing bodily harm by reckless driving.
Kozlowski overturned his semitrailer truck on Interstate 94 north of Osseo before a bus carrying members of the Chippewa Falls High School band crashed into it.
The accident killed Eau Claire alumnus and Chippewa Falls High School band director Douglas Greenhalgh, as well as his wife Therese and granddaughter Morgan. Atherton and bus driver Paul Rasmus also died.
Greenhalgh had taught music at Chippewa Falls for more than 20 years.
The bus, the first of a caravan carrying band members, staff and chaperones, was on its way back from a competition in Whitewater when it overturned at about 2 a.m.
Five Eau Claire students were among the 29 that were injured. Some of those stayed in the hospital for as long as a month after the accident.
Kozlowski has said he was trying to pull the truck over to go to the bathroom.
The trial, which was moved to St. Croix County because of extensive media coverage in the Eau Claire area, is expected to last at least two weeks and could be one of the longest criminal trials in Eau Claire County history.
Semi driver Michael Kozlowski, 24, of Schereville, Ind. is charged with five felony counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, seven felony counts of causing great bodily harm by reckless driving and 21 misdemeanor counts of causing bodily harm by reckless driving.
Kozlowski overturned his semitrailer truck on Interstate 94 north of Osseo before a bus carrying members of the Chippewa Falls High School band crashed into it.
The accident killed Eau Claire alumnus and Chippewa Falls High School band director Douglas Greenhalgh, as well as his wife Therese and granddaughter Morgan. Atherton and bus driver Paul Rasmus also died.
Greenhalgh had taught music at Chippewa Falls for more than 20 years.
The bus, the first of a caravan carrying band members, staff and chaperones, was on its way back from a competition in Whitewater when it overturned at about 2 a.m.
Five Eau Claire students were among the 29 that were injured. Some of those stayed in the hospital for as long as a month after the accident.
Kozlowski has said he was trying to pull the truck over to go to the bathroom.
The trial, which was moved to St. Croix County because of extensive media coverage in the Eau Claire area, is expected to last at least two weeks and could be one of the longest criminal trials in Eau Claire County history.
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