Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The driver of a coach that crashed in New York City, killing 15 people, should not have been behind the wheel because of a driving suspension and several traffic violations.
Ophadell Williams, 40, from Brooklyn, was due to speak to investigators yesterday. His driving privileges were suspended in 1995 after he ignored tickets for speeding and driving without a licence.
He was also involved, with others, in the fatal stabbing of a man in Brooklyn in 1990 and served two years in prison for manslaughter. Williams was arrested again in 1997 for forging a cheque. He was convicted of grand larceny and imprisoned from 1998 to 2002. The revelations prompted Governor Andrew Cuomo to launch a state investigation into how Williams was able to hold a valid commercial driver's licence at the time of the crash early last Saturday.
The coach, owned by World Wide Travel, was taking gamblers home to Chinatown, Manhattan, from the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. The vehicle, carrying 32 people, was sheared in half by a sign pole after overturning on the highway.
Williams told police at the scene that the coach was clipped by a lorry but investigators found no evidence backing his story. Passengers contradicted his account and told officers that Williams dozed off at the wheel several times before the bus careened out of control.
World Wide Travel has declined to comment.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments