Agent testifies that driver in bus accident wasn't alone

Star Tribune

Last update: May 15, 2008 - 1:03 PM

MARSHALL, Minn. -- A federal agent testified this morning that he has learned since the fatal Cottonwood, Minn., school bus crash that the woman accused of causing the accident was not alone in her van.

Olga Franco's boyfriend was with her in the van at the time of the Feb. 19 crash, said Jeremy Christenson, a special agent with Immigration, Customs and Enforcement.

Christenson said he learned this through interviews he conducted.

"I did learn that, yes," Christenson said under cross-examination from Franco's attorney Manuel Guerrero.

Guerrero asked the court to depose three witnesses so he could preserve their testimony if they’re not available at trial.

He told the judge a witness has been identified “who carried him [Franco’s boyfriend] away from the scene of the accident.”

The other two witnesses said they saw a man running away from the scene of the accident, Guerrero said.

After the hearing today, Guerrero spoke to reporters and said he had talked with the witness who picked up the boyfriend. That witness said he knew the boyfriend by his alias. The witness was a co-worker of Franco’s boyfriend, but did not witness the accident, Guerrero said.

Guerrero said the witness who picked up Franco’s boyfriend told him the boyfriend was injured, with pain in his back.

Guerrero said he believes that witness came forward to authorities about three weeks ago.