The trial of a truck driver charged in a deadly Chippewa Falls high school band bus crash is underway in St. Croix County. Indiana truck driver Michael Kozlowski is charged with criminal negligence in the crash that killed the band's director and his family, the bus driver and a student teacher in October of 2005. The second witness called was Brian Collicott, the band's other director, who survived the crash with serious injuries. Collicott said he woke up at 2:00 that morning and found himself pinned in the wreckage.
The prosecution claims the 24 year old Kozlowski didn't get enough sleep after a night of drinking, and that he fell asleep on interstate 94 near Osseo, where his truck jackknifed and overturned. The defense is claiming it was the bus driver who hadn't had enough sleep, before driving the marching band home from a state competition in Whitewater, and he should have been able to stop before hitting the truck. The trial is expected to continue through next week. [thanks to Dan Lea, WAYY]
