Man charged with DUI in injury school bus crash

Man charged with DUI in injury school bus crash

Jonathan Matney is now behind bars at the Madison County Detention Center after he rear ended a school bus full of children. Kentucky State Police say there is no indication that Matney ever hit his breaks, and say he was likely under the influence of prescription medication.

The accident had traffic backed up on Brassfield Road, near Waco, around four Monday afternoon. There emergency crews and Madison County school officials checked the students on board.

"It was a fairly loaded bus," described Superintendent Tommy Floyd, adding, "We had one little girl that had to have somebody look at her, we did that, she was released to her parents. Anytime you come to a place like this you're always glad you have a happy ending."

According to investigators, Matney hit the bus as it slowed down to turn onto Gum Bottom Road, a trooper described Matney as not fully alert at the scene. Matney was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of prescription medication and 34 counts of 2nd degree wanton endangerment, one count for every person on school bus.

Matney's wife was inside the car at the time of the wreck, she had to be taken to the hospital, but her injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

While there was no major damage to the bus, the students on board were taken off and loaded onto two others to be taken home. Floyd says the principals at the students' schools contacted each parent, and the children were also given letters to take home to their parents.

"All of these school buses, and all of these people responsible for them, we understand the cargo is precious," said Floyd.