Driver in '08 bus crash that killed 4 kids loses appeal

Star Tribune

Last update: July 20, 2010 - 10:52 PM

Olga Franco, who was driving a van that killed four children and injured 17 others in Cottonwood, Minn., two years ago, has lost the appeal of her conviction.

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld Franco's convictions of criminal vehicular homicide, criminal vehicular operation, providing false identification to a peace officer, driving without a valid driver's license and a stop-sign violation.

On Feb. 19, 2008, Franco drove a minivan through a stop sign in Cottonwood and hit a school bus broadside.

Eight months later, she was convicted and sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison.

Franco, 26, is a native of Guatemala who is in the country illegally and is likely to be deported after she serves her prison term.

In her appeal, her attorneys argued that her boyfriend -- who disappeared after the crash -- was actually driving, that statements she made to state troopers were not voluntary and that her case was invalidated by prosecutorial misconduct.

The appeals court rejected all of those arguments.

BOB VON STERNBERG

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