This post was provided by News Now Warsaw
By David L. Slone
Times-Union
WARSAW — Almost 2-1/2 years ago, a fast-moving semi tractor-trailer hit a school bus transporting the St. Ignatius College Prep hockey team from Illinois on U.S. 30, near East Center Street, in Warsaw.
The driver, Victor Santos, 61, of New York, had a 0.13% BrAC. The school bus overturned and about 20 students were injured, but fortunately, there were no fatalities on that Nov. 12, 2022, night.
At 1:15 p.m. Monday, May 6 in Kosciusko Superior Court III, Santos is scheduled to plead guilty to five of the felony charges against him that would net him about 20 years in prison, if the plea agreement is accepted by the judge. A jury trial is vacated and the state will agree to dismiss the remaining counts against Santos upon sentencing.
As of April 2024, he was charged with four counts of causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, level 5 felonies; and 22 counts of criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, level 6 felonies. He has been incarcerated since November 2022.
According to a copy of the plea agreement filed April 7, 2025, Santos will plead guilty to counts 1-4 of causing serious bodily injury while operating a vehicle while intoxicated, level 5 felonies; and count 5 of criminal recklessness, a level 6 felony.
On counts 1-4, in exchange for Santos’ guilty plea, he will receive any sentence permitted under statute for a level 5 felony per count, to be served consecutively with a cap of 20 years on the initially executed sentence and any sentence beyond the executed is to be served on formal probation.
On count 5, Santos will receive 2-1/2 years suspended on formal probation, the plea agreement states.
The court will assess $189.50 court costs, no fine, a $200 alcohol countermeasure fee and all fees associated with probation. Santos will reimburse the county the cost of his court-appointed counsel. He also will agree to have his cash bond, if any, applied to the financial terms outlined in the plea agreement.
The agreement also states Santos will pay all costs of extradition filed against him in the matter. He will reimburse the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office $180 for the blood test. He also must pay restitution as a result of the accident in an amount to be determined.
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