Trial begins in deadly Chattanooga school bus crash

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — A prosecutor says an East Tennessee school bus driver was on his cellphone and driving 20 mph over the speed limit when he caused the crash that killed six elementary school students.

Johnthony Walker is being tried on 34 charges including vehicular homicide. Prosecutor Crystle Carrion said Walker was driving 50 mph on a narrow, winding road when the bus ran off the road, hit a pole, overturned and hit a tree.

Defense attorney Amanda Dunn said Chattanooga police never investigated an eyewitness who said her client swerved to avoid another vehicle while taking 37 students home in 2016 in Chattanooga.