ISP Investigation of Fatal Crash Involving a School Bus Leads to Charges Against Bus Driver

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IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE
Teresa Baker
Public Information Officer
Headquarters
700 S. Stratford Dr., Meridian 83642
(208) 884-7122
Fax (208) 884-7087

For Immediate Release: 4/29/14 at 2:50 p.m.

MERIDIAN - Idaho State Police completed their investigation into the two vehicle crash on December 5, 2013 that involved a 1998 Bluebird school bus driven by Debra Boatwright, 56, of Nampa and a 1974 Mack dump truck driven by Charles Derby, 33, of Nampa. The crash occurred at the intersection of Deer Flat and Happy Valley Roads in rural Canyon County as the bus was transporting twelve elementary school age children to Crimson Point Elementary in Kuna. Daniel Cook, 11, of Nampa was a passenger on the school bus and was killed in the collision.

The investigation found that Boatwright was traveling east on Deer Flat Road and stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of Deer Flat Road and Happy Valley Road. Boatwright then proceeded into the intersection as Derby was driving northbound on Happy Valley Road. The dump truck struck the rear passenger side of the bus. Cook was sitting in the 11th row passenger seat of the bus when the collision occurred. The investigation concluded that Boatwright failed to yield the right of way to Derby when she pulled away from the stop sign and into the intersection.

The case was referred to the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Today that office charged Boatwright with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter pursuant to section 18-4006(3)(c), Idaho Code in Third District Court in Caldwell. Boatwright will need to appear in court on or before June 5, 2014.

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