Witnesses say van driver in Cottonwood bus crash not alone
By The Associated Press

MARSHALL, Minn. — A federal immigration agent says witnesses have told investigators that the woman charged in a fatal school bus crash in southwestern Minnesota was not alone at the time.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent Jeremy Christenson testified Thursday during a hearing on the case against Olga Marina Franco del Cid.
According to a report by the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, Christenson said during cross- examination that he has learned from witnesses since the crash that Franco’s boyfriend was with her in the van. It hit a bus carrying students from Lakeview School in Cottonwood.

Franco is charged with four counts of criminal vehicular homicide after the February 19 crash killed four children.

Franco has denied being the driver in the crash, saying her boyfriend was behind the wheel. He has not been found.

Franco’s attorney Manuel Guerrero says he has talked with witnesses who picked up Franco’s boyfriend after the crash.

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