Bus driver requests jury trial

Keith D. Crandell, driver of the Chase County Schools bus involved in a Sept. 27 accident southwest of Imperial, has requested a jury trial in the charges against him.

At a Chase County Court hearing Nov. 30, Crandell, 41, who lives in Champion, formally pled not guilty to willful reckless driving, a Class III misdemeanor, and failure to yield right-of-way, an infraction.

Judge Edward Steenburg advised Crandell of his rights at the Nov. 30 hearing.

The charges were filed after the September accident when the 2020 Integrated CES bus driven by Crandell attempted to make a left-hand turn from Champion Highway, when it collided with a 1992 Peterbilt semi pulling a fully loaded grain trailer. 

The semi, owned by KAK Inc. of Champion, was driven by 20-year-old Chance D. Lotspeich of Venango and was traveling northbound on the highway. It hit the rear passenger side of the bus.

Twelve students were on the  bus at the time, and three of them were air-lifted to area hospitals after the accident.

Crandell’s next court appearance will be Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. for a pretrial hearing.

Crandell is represented by attorneys Waite & McWha of North Platte. Chase County Attorney Arlan Wine is prosecuting the case.