Bus Driver In Fatal I-80 Crash Pleads Not Guilty, Trial Date Set

MOUNT OLIVE, NJ — The bus driver accused in last May's fatal bus crash on I-80 in Mount Olive has pleaded not guilty, a spokesperson for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said. A trial date is set for the fall.

Hudy Muldrow Sr., 78, of Woodland Park, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree reckless vehicular homicide, 25 counts of fourth-degree assault by auto, and 16 counts of assault by auto. He was indicted on all charges earlier this month, and arraigned on Monday.

Muldrow is expected to stand trial in the deaths of 10-year-old student Miranda Vargas and 51-year-old teacher Jennifer Williamson-Kennedy beginning Oct. 7, the prosecutor's office said. The trial is expected to last five to seven weeks. Judge Stephen Taylor said he set the trial date so far in advance because of the length of the trial and "the importance of the case," the Daily Record reported.

Students and teachers from Paramus East Brook Middle School were on their way to a field trip at the Waterloo Village in Byram on May 17, 2018, when the crash happened. Prosecutors say the three buses missed the exit for the village and, in an attempt to course correct, Muldrow cut across three lanes of traffic on I-80 in attempt to reach the other side of the road.

The bus was hit by a dump truck, knocking the body of the buss off its chasis. Virtually all the 45 students, teachers and adults on the bus sustained some type of injury.

Muldrow has maintained his innocence through his lawyer. Taylor did not rule out the possibility of a plea deal, but said that would be left to the lawyers to hash out, the Daily Record said.
He has been released from custody on several conditions while awaiting trial, including surrendering his driving license and not leaving the country.

Muldrow has a long history of driving trouble, the state Motor Vehicle Commission confirmed, including 14 license suspensions. Despite his record, Muldrow still managed to have a commercial driver's license with valid passenger and school bus endorsements.

Commission spokesperson Mairin Bellack said. Paramus officials have said they were unaware of his driving record.

With reporting by Dan Hubbard, Patch staff