Driver in head-on IE school-bus crash pleads

RIVERSIDE, Calif. Joseph Garcia pleaded not guilty to eight felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He entered pleas from a Riverside hospital's jail ward.

Garcia has been receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the Oct. 20 incident.

The collision injured three students and the school-bus driver. The bus is part of the Jurupa Unified School District.

The bus was carrying seven Nueva Vista Continuation High School students. Three students and the two drivers were treated for minor injuries.

The bus was exiting the westbound 60 Freeway at Pedley Rd. when Garcia allegedly drove a Chevrolet HHR the wrong way onto the exit and struck the bus head-on.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.