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Attorney for Athens bus driver John Stevens says train speeding before deadly crash, newspaper reports

Stevens is charged with criminally negligent homicide after the bus he was driving was hit by a Union Pacific train, killing Christopher Bonilla.

ATHENS, Texas — The attorney for John Stevens, the former Athens ISD bus driver facing negligent homicide charges in 2019's deadly train vs. bus crash, says the Union Pacific train was speeding in the moments before the crash, the Athens Daily Review reports.

According to the newspaper, attorney Justin Weiner presented information from the train's black box that says it was speeding within the city limits of Athens.

RELATED: A look back at the deadly Athens ISD bus vs. train crash

On Jan. 25, 2019, John Stevens was driving an Athens ISD bus with 13-year-old Christopher Bonilla and his 9-year-old cousin Joselyn Torres across the tracks on Cream Level Road where the bus was struck by the train. Bonilla was killed in the crash. Torres, who was injured in the crash, remained hospitalized for several days.

Stevens was charged with manslaughter/criminally negligent homicide and injury to a child in June.

The newspaper says Weiner is attempting to interview the train's crew for statements, but whether he will be allowed to has not been determined. 

RELATED: TxDOT's Railroad Division provides at-risk ranking of Athens railroad crossing

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