San Antonio Express-News
May 7, 1999
Edition: Metro
Section: A Section
Page: 9A
Topics:
Index Terms:
News - National
Man fined in crash of church bus
Author: Associated Press
Dateline: ARTESIA, N.M.
Article Text:
Lawrence Mathews, 75, who was towing the trailer that slammed into a church bus and a pickup, killing seven, has been cited for driving over the center line.
Mathews, from Dewey, Ariz., pleaded no contest to the charge Wednesday in Magistrate Court here and paid a fine of $10 and court fees of $39.
Assistant District Attorney Floyd "Terry" Haake said no other criminal charges were expected against Mathews.
"I found nothing to make me believe he was reckless or intoxicated or that he intended to do it," he said. "Criminally, I found no responsibility here."
Haake said it's still possible that someone involved in the accident could file a civil lawsuit.
The trailer came loose from Mathews' truck after he crossed over the center line on U.S. 82 Sunday and struck a church bus carrying 28 people moving in the opposite direction, state police Capt. John Balderston said Thursday.
The trailer sliced through one side of the bus and then struck a pickup behind the bus.
The crash killed seven people - six in the bus, which was returning to Lubbock, and a passenger in the pickup that was following the bus. The accident occurred near Mayhill.
An additional 20 people were injured in the crash.
Copyright 1999 San Antonio Express-News
Record Number: 428324
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