A man has been found guilty after striking a school bus full of children in May of 2018.
Wayne E. Murphy was driving a semi-truck on Interstate 39/90/94 when he hit the school bus that was stopped on the shoulder of the highway. The bus was on its way to the Wisconsin Dells for a field trip. Five children suffered great bodily harm from the incident and many more suffered less severe injuries, according to a press release.
Murphy was under the influence of alprazolam and setraline when he drove into the parked school bus.
"By driving while impaired, this driver caused injury to more than 20 children," said Attorney Gen. Josh Kaul. "Thanks to the time and effort of the prosecution team, law enforcement, victim-services providers, and the victims and their families, the defendant in this case is being held accountable."
Murphy has been convicted with five counts of injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle and five counts of second degree reckless injury. The crimes carry a potential period of imprisonment of 145 years.
A court hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 4.
