A bus driver cited for crashing into a live news conference on the day of the casino construction collapse is fighting her ticket.
Police cited 48 year old Joann Cole-Searles of Madisonville for improper change of course. She was behind the wheel of the Go Bus which hit a news truck while cameras were rolling.
The crash happened in front of the Greyhound Bus station on Court Street, near Gilbert Avenue on January 27th. A Rock Gaming officials had just started to speak about the collapse, which had happened several hours before, when the sounds of honking could be heard. A few moments later, a "Go" Bus is seen pulling behind the Rock Gaming officials and the sounds of gasps from the crowd and crunching metal could be heard as the bus hit a live truck.
Cole-Searles then got off the bus and told the group that she had a job to do, and that if they hadn't all been congregated on the sidewalk, she would not have hit the live truck.
Her case is set for trial on February 21st. A reporter from Local 12 News, as well as a reporter and videographer from another station received subpoenas to testify.
