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U.S. NEWS Thursday 15 March 2018

Bus driver's autopsy report could help explain deadly crash

By JAY REEVES gator with the agency, told
Associated Press a news conference that
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Caligone was on his way
Autopsy results on a bus to meet a relief driver less
driver who died while tak- than an hour away in Mo-
ing a high school band bile, Alabama, at the time
from Florida to Texas may of the crash. Switching driv-
help show why the vehicle ers is a normal procedure,
careened wildly across a he said, and the driver had
highway before plunging not exceeded the total
down a steep embank- number of hours he was al-
ment, police said Wednes- lowed to drive.
day. The crash occurred on a
The driver, 65-year-old Har- rural stretch between Pen-
ry Caligone, was the only sacola, Florida, and Mo-
person killed in the crash, bile, Alabama.
and a medical examiner's A student told the media
report could reveal wheth- that the band director
er he had a health problem called the driver called out
that could be a factor in “Harry” several times be-
the crash, said Capt. John fore the crash, but Malone
Malone of the Alabama said investigators haven’t
Law Enforcement Agency. determined what hap-
About three dozen peo- Community members attend a prayer vigil in the parking lot of the Bill Neal Center next to Chan- pened aboard the bus.
ple went to hospitals after nelview High School, Tuesday, March 13, 2018, in Channelview, Texas. The crash of a charter Caligone’s sister-in-law, An-
bus carrying a high school band from Florida to Texas left a driver dead and about three dozen
the accident, and nine people injured in south Alabama. gela Caligone, 58, of Hous-
remained hospitalized (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP) ton, said Caligone had
Wednesday. been a bus driver for more
The bus, carrying 46 stu- Tuesday. "It actually hit the guard rail ply the brakes in a hurry. than 20 years, the last 15
dents and adults from Dis- Malone said the bus on the eastbound side and "It just rolled," Malone said. years with First Class Tours
ney World to Channelview veered across the median was directed back into the The National Transportation Inc. of Houston.
High School in suburban into the eastbound lane median," he said. Safety Board said the bus Caligone said her brother-
Houston, unexpectedly left before shooting back into There were no signs of skid was new and making only in-law had just passed a
the westbound lane of In- the grass median and driv- marks, Malone said, indi- its second trip. physical with “flying col-
terstate 10 before dawn ing off the ravine. cating the driver didn't ap- Pete Kotowski, an investi- ors.” q

2 experienced climbers believed dead on Alaska mountain

ANCHORAGE, Alaska Towers, a mountain that avalanche, whether their ada and Patagonia. received an American Al-
(AP) — Two experienced rises nearly 7,000 feet (2,134 rope failed — I mean, any- "Sadly, we have lost two pine Club grant earlier this
mountain climbers trying to meters) over the Juneau thing could happen." really great climbers and I year to climb the 13,832-
tackle a new route in Alas- Ice Field, about 12 miles (20 Officials won't be able to lost a son I am very proud foot (4,216-meter) Mount
ka were presumed dead kilometers) north of Juneau. recover the bodies right of," Leclerc's father, Serge, Hayes in the Alaska Range,
after climbing ropes that They found an intact an- away because of ava- wrote on Facebook. "Thank according to the Juneau
matched their gear were chor rope at the top of an lanche danger. Johnson you for the support during Empire newspaper. Online
found in a crevasse, au- ice chute on one peak and and Leclerc had been this difficult time. My heart fundraising pages have
thorities said Wednesday. saw two climbing ropes in a flown to the mountain and is so broken ... Part of me is been set up for both men.
George "Ryan" Johnson, crevasse midway down the planned to ski out to an gone with him." The page for Johnson said
34, of Juneau, and Marc- same peak. area to be picked up. Treya Klassen, a close the money will be used to
Andre Leclerc, 25, of Squa- Megan Peters, a spokes- Leclerc was considered friend of Serge Leclerc, said pay for search efforts and
mish, British Columbia, woman for the Alaska State a gifted climber. Outside last week that the younger to support his 2-year-old
were reported missing after Troopers, said it wasn't clear magazine called him "one Leclerc had his eye on son. Leclerc's family said
they failed to return from a what went wrong because of the best young alpinists climbing Mendenhall Tow- donations will help his part-
climb March 7 on a seven- no one saw what hap- in the world," and his biog- ers for a decade. ner as she and other family
peaked mountain not far pened. raphy on the website of a An online version of Alpin- members grieve. Lawmak-
from Alaska's capital city. "We know they made it to sponsor, Canadian out- ist magazine said Johnson ers in the Alaska House of
Rescuers had to wait until the top. We know they set door equipment company knew the mountain. He Representatives held a
Tuesday for the weather to anchor," she said. "Whether Arc'Teryx, says he complet- had scaled Mendenhall moment of silence for the
clear to fly to Mendenhall they were taken out by an ed several ascents in Can- Towers multiple times and climbers Wednesday.q