Driver In Fatal Bus Stop Crash Appears In Court Today

November 15, 2018 at 5:10 p.m.
Driver In Fatal Bus Stop Crash Appears In Court Today
Driver In Fatal Bus Stop Crash Appears In Court Today

By Staff Report-

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct who entered the preliminary plea.

ROCHESTER – The woman accused of killing three children in a bus stop crash was in court today, where a judge entered a preliminary not guilty plea on her behalf.

Alyssa Shepherd, 24, appeared this morning for her initial hearing, on three counts of reckless homicide and one count of passing a stopped school bus resulting in injury, before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Wayne Steele.

Times-Union news partner WSBT channel 22 reported Shepherd is accused of speeding past a bus stop arm, hitting four children and killing three of them: 9-year-old Alivia Stahl and twins Xzavier and Mason Ingle, 6.

The fourth victim, Maverik Lowe, 11, is recovering in a Fort Wayne hospital.

The reckless homicide charges she faces have a sentence of one to six years. The charge of passing a stopped school bus resulting in injury has a sentence of up to one year.

The crash happened Oct. 30 just outside of Rochester.

Michael Stahl, the father of Alivia, told WSBT’s Katlin Connin this morning he’s mourning the loss of his daughter but he has hope in the justice system. He says that threats against Shepherd’s family need to stop.

“Myself, personally, I beg of you don’t do that,” Michael Stahl said. “It’s not helping the situation. It doesn’t help the prosecutors. It doesn’t help the justice system. It doesn’t help us. And it doesn’t do my daughter justice or the other people who are affected by this.”

He told WSBT that today — and the rest of the court process — is one of the hardest things he’s had to deal with.

The only thing that’s been harder was the funeral of his daughter and the twins.

Shepherd’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 5.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct who entered the preliminary plea.

ROCHESTER – The woman accused of killing three children in a bus stop crash was in court today, where a judge entered a preliminary not guilty plea on her behalf.

Alyssa Shepherd, 24, appeared this morning for her initial hearing, on three counts of reckless homicide and one count of passing a stopped school bus resulting in injury, before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Wayne Steele.

Times-Union news partner WSBT channel 22 reported Shepherd is accused of speeding past a bus stop arm, hitting four children and killing three of them: 9-year-old Alivia Stahl and twins Xzavier and Mason Ingle, 6.

The fourth victim, Maverik Lowe, 11, is recovering in a Fort Wayne hospital.

The reckless homicide charges she faces have a sentence of one to six years. The charge of passing a stopped school bus resulting in injury has a sentence of up to one year.

The crash happened Oct. 30 just outside of Rochester.

Michael Stahl, the father of Alivia, told WSBT’s Katlin Connin this morning he’s mourning the loss of his daughter but he has hope in the justice system. He says that threats against Shepherd’s family need to stop.

“Myself, personally, I beg of you don’t do that,” Michael Stahl said. “It’s not helping the situation. It doesn’t help the prosecutors. It doesn’t help the justice system. It doesn’t help us. And it doesn’t do my daughter justice or the other people who are affected by this.”

He told WSBT that today — and the rest of the court process — is one of the hardest things he’s had to deal with.

The only thing that’s been harder was the funeral of his daughter and the twins.

Shepherd’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 5.

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Fast Start Allows Warsaw To Cruise Past Plymouth
Looking to move past a mercy-rule loss to Goshen earlier this week, the Warsaw baseball team set their eyes on a different Northern Lakes Conference opponent on Friday: Plymouth. The Tigers started fast, scoring seven runs in the first inning en route to a 10-2 victory.

Firefighters Use Science & Math As They Train On A Real Home
Firefighting is not just putting water on the flames, there’s science and math involved.

Rise Up Event Raises Over $107K For The Magical Meadows
A goal to raise $100,000 was surpassed at the Rise Up Event Thursday evening. Rise Up is the annual fundraiser for The Magical Meadows to support its mission.

Health Department Urges Precautions Against Tick-Borne Illness
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana health officials are urging Hoosiers to protect themselves from tick bites as ticks are active from early spring through late fall.

Eight Indiana Firefighters Among Those Being Honored May 3-4 During National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend
EMMITSBURG, Md. – The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) will host the 44th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 3-4 in Emmitsburg, Md.