A former Granite School District bus driver admitted to intentionally setting his bus on fire while driving on multiple occassions with students on board.Micha
A former Granite School District bus driver entered a guilty plea to setting a school bus on fire while driving through traffic. Michael Austin Ford, 60, of West Valley City, was originally indicted in February 2024 for two counts of arson of a vehicle of an organization receiving federal funds.
April 2023 surveillance video from inside the bus reportedly showed Ford using a lighter to ignite the fire before continuing to drive with smoke blowing past him. Prosecutors later found evidence that Ford had attempted to tamper with the bus's surveillance system in the days leading up to the arson.Utah man faces federal charges for starting fire on school bus with students aboard Ford was also accused of a similar incident from February 2022, where he started a school bus fire while there were 42 students on board. Video from that incident showed students covering their faces and coughing as smoke filled the bus. Ford later pulled the bus over, evacuated the students, and contacted the Granite School District. "Children are among our most vulnerable population. When someone intentionally threatens their safety through violent crimes involving fire, it is especially disturbing and such cases will always remain a top priority for our agency," said Chris Ashbridge, ATF Special Agent in Charge."It is our hope Ford is sentenced to the term of imprisonment that will protect our community from his careless disregard for safety and the law," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah.Bangerter Highway will be closed in West Jordan over the weekend.The highway will close from 9000 South to 7800 South starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday, March 28,An officer-involved shooting forced northbound I-15 to be closed at 4500 South.The shooting involved a Utah Highway Patrol trooper, who jumped out of his vehiclA St. George neighborhood experienced an infestation of hundreds of roof rats. Exterminators said the population would increase exponentially across St. GeorgeA Cedar City family is preparing to say goodbye to a 7-year-old child who was struck by an SUV while riding a scooter on his way to school.The incident happenA large house fire broke out in the Sandy area, prompting a response from Unified Fire Authority and the Sandy Fire Department.Benjamin Porter, a spokesperson
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Former School Bus Driver Admits to Intentionally Setting School Bus on FireMichael Austin Ford, a former Granite School District bus driver, pleaded guilty to intentionally setting a school bus on fire in April 2023. This wasn't his first instance of arson, as he was also accused of setting another bus ablaze in February 2022. Ford's actions endangered both passengers and the public.
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