The driver of a soft drink truck involved in the worst school bus accident in Texas history was charged Wednesday with involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of 21 school children.
Ruben Perez, 25, was freed on a $75,000 personal recognizance bond following his arraignment in state district court in Edinburg.Perez surrendered Wednesday afternoon to authorities at the Hidalgo County courthouse after a 21-count indictment charging him with involuntary manslaughter in each of the children's deaths was issued late Tuesday.
Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra said a trial was tentatively scheduled March 12.
Perez was driving the truck that collided with a bus from the Mission Consolidated School District at a rural intersection near Alton, Texas, Sept. 21, knocking the bus off the road and into a water-filled pit. Twenty-one junior high and high school students died, and dozens more were injured.
Perez told investigators his brakes failed. Guerra said an investigation found that three of six brakes on the truck were out of adjustment, but if the brakes had been applied correctly, the truck should have been able to stop.